[0:00] >>board secretary, chante

[0:00] mitchell:

[0:01] good morning and welcome to the

[0:02] regular meeting of the board of

[0:02] water and power commissioners.

[0:03] today is tuesday november 18,

[0:04] 2025. This meeting is being

[0:04] broadcast on channel 35.

[0:05] the exact broadcast times can be

[0:06] found by contacting channel 35.

[0:09] board of water and power

[0:11] commissioners please say present

[0:12] for roll call.

[0:14] commissioner nurit katz?

[0:16] >>com. Nurit katz: present.

[0:16] >>board secretary, chante

[0:17] mitchell: president richard

[0:18] katz?

[0:19] >>pres. Richard katz: present.

[0:20] >>board secretary, chante

[0:20] mitchell: commissioner pinder?

[0:22] >>com. Wilma pinder: present.

[0:23] >>board secretary, chante

[0:23] mitchell: three board members,

[0:24] a quorum is present. Mr.

[0:26] president?

[0:28] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[0:29] you.

[0:31] >>com. Wilma pinder: wow. Has

[0:31] it come to this?

[0:33] [laughter]

[0:34] >>pres. Richard katz:

[0:36] [laughter]

[0:36] don't start wilma. It's going

[0:42] to be a long day. Couple

[0:44] things.

[0:47] [off-mic indiscernible]

[0:49] >>pres. Richard katz: they have

[0:50] already sent me out. So you

[0:52] know, it's, first thing that

[0:55] goes to the mic. We have two

[0:57] items that are being deferred

[0:59] number n6 and n 24. Okay.

[1:06] I want to --

[1:08] >>com. Wilma pinder: do you

[1:08] want to take the n24 so then I

[1:10] can be --

[1:11] >>pres. Richard katz: we can't.

[1:12] >>com. Nurit katz: we have to

[1:13] wait.

[1:17] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[1:17] for the offer. Welcome to this

[1:21] meeting, this is a relatively

[1:23] long agenda, because people were

[1:24] trying to as much in as

[1:27] possible, not before the end of

[1:29] the year but before quorums got

[1:31] questionable. So, we got a lot

[1:33] of stuff at the last moment.

[1:35] and thank you to chante and her

[1:36] staff for getting it all ready

[1:38] for us. And we will go ahead.

[1:49] I'll make my comments later.

[1:50] so, let's just go to the agenda.

[1:53] any comments by other

[1:56] commissioners?

[1:57] >>com. Nurit katz: not at this

[1:58] time, I will save for a specific

[2:00] period.

[2:01] >>pres. Richard katz: okay.

[2:02] >>com. Wilma pinder: thank you.

[2:03] the same.

[2:04] >>pres. Richard katz: okay

[2:05] thank you wilma. Public

[2:06] comment?

[2:07] >>board secretary, chante

[2:08] mitchell: public comment is

[2:09] open. Public comment is open at

[2:13] this time. We have

[2:15] approximately ten public

[2:17] commenters. The first public

[2:18] commenter is lilly freidland,

[2:21] who will be followed by connor

[2:24] everts.

[2:37] >>speaker: hello. And I want

[2:38] to thank the board for being

[2:39] willing to hear a really serious

[2:41] issue that I think you need to

[2:43] address. I'm lilly freidland, I

[2:51] may not be able to express all

[2:54] as well as I would want to.

[2:56] before I start two quick things,

[2:59] first we spoke with a woman

[3:02] named clarissa rubio, she is

[3:06] lovely. We have been trying to

[3:07] get ahold of someone who is

[3:09] truly listening to the situation

[3:10] that my mom is going through

[3:12] she's the only person that we

[3:13] have connected with that heard

[3:15] us here. Second my mom has a

[3:19] disability placard she was

[3:21] unable to find parking. That's

[3:23] something -- mr. Chapman should

[3:26] be aware of this she was unable

[3:28] to park in a district parking

[3:31] spot. We are normal citizens my

[3:35] mom lives alone she about a year

[3:38] ago, her account number first

[3:40] and foremost is 99,461,000. She

[3:44] got a bill in excess of $6,000.

[3:52] she called and said what is this

[3:53] bill about, and she said oh, the

[3:56] water meter has not been working

[3:58] for over five years, even though

[4:00] she has been paying regularly

[4:04] 850 plus dollars a month, or

[4:06] whatever, the billing cycle,

[4:08] every two months, whatever that

[4:09] situation is. And they said

[4:11] sorry, there was something wrong

[4:12] on our end, but you're still

[4:14] required to pay that entire

[4:15] bill. Who has that kind of

[4:18] money available like this? But

[4:22] more so, it's not her

[4:24] responsibility. There was a

[4:28] problem with the water meter

[4:29] that she had no idea about.

[4:30] there was no way that she would

[4:32] have been able to rectify the

[4:34] situation, and after constant

[4:36] going back and forth, they did

[4:37] reduce it to -- do we have a

[4:39] time limit?

[4:42] >>com. Wilma pinder: yes. But

[4:42] more so importantly, and those

[4:45] things do happen. Who should

[4:47] she speak to so that they can

[4:49] take it personally while you're

[4:51] here on the premises and talk to

[4:53] you.

[4:54] >>speaker: thank you because

[4:55] she just got another bill for

[4:58] $3,500.

[4:59] >>com. Wilma pinder: she and I

[5:01] must be linked to the same water

[5:03] meter.

[5:03] >>speaker: I pay my bill every

[5:06] month it's usually a thousand

[5:09] dollars.

[5:11] >>speaker: I have christian

[5:14] estrada who is the manager of

[5:16] customer relations who can get

[5:18] to the bottom of it I understand

[5:20] your situation I'm sorry you had

[5:22] to come here to get the

[5:23] attention that you need.

[5:24] >>speaker: I appreciate that.

[5:25] I know the time is up. I'll

[5:27] respect that. But when we have

[5:29] called they have said oh we see

[5:33] you have called and the

[5:34] situation should be rectified

[5:36] and I'm like, no.

[5:40] >>com. Wilma pinder: but you do

[5:40] have it madam, today.

[5:43] >>speaker: we have the

[5:44] capability to come down here

[5:45] today. Many people probably

[5:47] don't.

[5:48] >>com. Wilma pinder: and we

[5:49] appreciate it. And you're so

[5:51] good to stand with your mom. I

[5:53] wish one of my daughters would

[5:56] stand with me on my water bill.

[5:58] [laughter]

[5:58] thank you. And I really mean

[6:01] that.

[6:01] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[6:02] joe for taking care of that.

[6:05] let us know how --

[6:07] >>joseph m. Ramallo: I will.

[6:08] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[6:09] you. Connor, you're up.

[6:14] >>speaker: thank you richard.

[6:17] >>speaker: welcome back.

[6:23] >>speaker: I have to say that's

[6:26] deja vu all over again when our

[6:29] family put in a landscape meter

[6:31] they were adding instead of

[6:35] subtracting and unresolved for

[6:37] two years. Things are now much

[6:41] better. I'm here today for two

[6:42] reasons, one to thank richard

[6:45] katz for his service, now we

[6:47] have only one katz as

[6:49] commissioner. I want to thank

[6:51] you for addressing me

[6:52] personally. I appreciate that.

[6:53] we have known each other for a

[6:55] long time. I also want to say

[6:57] again because I have been coming

[6:59] fairly regularly that, what we

[7:02] really felt was an agreement and

[7:05] the expansion of the tillman

[7:06] plant which I worked promoting

[7:07] for many, many, many years, with

[7:10] that -- the expansion would

[7:12] allow water as required by the

[7:13] state water resource control

[7:15] board to go back to the levels

[7:17] for mono lake. So, I want to

[7:19] remind that. And without

[7:21] richard here, we hope others

[7:22] will carry on and thank you very

[7:24] much I'm sorry I can't stay. I

[7:27] actually had to take 30-empty

[7:31] parking because I had the same

[7:32] problem the handicapped spots

[7:35] were filled there is a couple of

[7:37] people there who don't belong as

[7:39] well. Thank you for the time I

[7:42] look forward to the future.

[7:43] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[7:45] richard for your consistency and

[7:49] advocacy I know it will

[7:52] continue.

[7:53] >>speaker: just to show up.

[7:56] >>pres. Richard katz: that's

[7:57] half the game at least, right?

[8:00] >>com. Nurit katz: richard I

[8:02] will continue the communication

[8:04] with you on mono lake.

[8:07] >>speaker: I appreciate that

[8:08] and you also being on the inyo

[8:15] standing committee representing

[8:18] tribal issues.

[8:19] >>com. Wilma pinder: take care

[8:21] in this damp weather.

[8:22] >>board secretary, chante

[8:26] mitchell: the next speaker will

[8:27] be mark gold who will followed

[8:31] by setting jacobson. You will

[8:34] have two minutes to speak.

[8:37] >>speaker: good morning

[8:37] everybody I'm mark gold here

[8:40] today to -- I thought it was

[8:41] going to be a roast, richard,

[8:44] that would be a lot more fun.

[8:46] >>pres. Richard katz: it still

[8:49] may.

[8:50] [laughter]

[8:50] >>speaker: thank you for your

[8:51] leadership and service here at

[8:53] ladwp and to echo what connor

[8:56] just said, the leadership on

[8:58] tillman has been so important.

[9:01] it's just way too long

[9:02] happening. And now this

[9:03] happened, you can just feel the

[9:05] difference in momentum on

[9:08] recycled water in los angeles,

[9:10] and that's just so critical.

[9:12] and, really, the commitment to

[9:14] move towards climate resilience

[9:17] and local water supply and

[9:19] tillman has been a critical part

[9:22] of that. And speaking of

[9:24] resilience, leadership on

[9:25] machine owe lake, the more we're

[9:27] learning about mono lake the

[9:28] more we realize the impacts of

[9:29] climate change on mono lake have

[9:31] been pretty substantial. And so

[9:36] your statement of potential

[9:38] policy moving forward on mono

[9:40] lake, is greatly appreciated,

[9:43] because that's obviously such an

[9:45] incredible resource for the

[9:47] state of california. And the

[9:49] reality is, with climate change,

[9:52] it's not because ladwp hasn't

[9:54] been doing, you know, what they

[9:56] can to better protect mono lake,

[9:59] at the same time, the lake

[10:01] levels just haven't been met.

[10:02] so, you know, obviously a lot

[10:04] more needs to be done and

[10:05] climate change wasn't taken into

[10:07] account in that original

[10:09] agreement. But bottom line,

[10:11] thank you, richard, for your

[10:12] leadership here. I don't know

[10:13] what the hell you're going do

[10:15] with all your time now. But,

[10:16] anyways.

[10:17] [laughter]

[10:19] >>speaker: great seeing you

[10:20] man.

[10:20] >>pres. Richard katz:

[10:21] basketball games and bruin

[10:24] games.

[10:25] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you.

[10:26] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[10:27] you, mark. Welcome.

[10:35] >>speaker: thank you I'm hoping

[10:36] I can get more than two minutes

[10:38] because I want to talk about an

[10:40] agendaized item and also want to

[10:41] congratulate you number 33.

[10:43] maybe you will give me a few

[10:45] minutes. I'm here representing

[10:48] mono lake committee jeff

[10:49] mcquillan here last meeting for

[10:53] a variety of reasons, machine

[10:55] owe lake committee first of all

[10:58] congratulate and support dwp on

[11:01] its october 28th decision to

[11:03] expand the tillman reclamation

[11:08] facility we think that's a major

[11:10] step in the right direction to

[11:13] get mono lake as said at the

[11:20] last meeting 66392 which would

[11:26] obviously be an incredible

[11:28] opportunity we believe the

[11:29] opportunity here for this

[11:31] commission to communicate that

[11:33] to the state water board and

[11:34] communicate the biodiversity the

[11:36] need for air pollution controls

[11:39] and others would be tremendous

[11:41] it's time to think based on

[11:43] comments at the last hearing to

[11:45] work together collaboratively

[11:46] with anselmo and his team to

[11:48] come up with a letter we're

[11:50] happy to work collaboratively

[11:52] and find a way to communicate to

[11:53] the state water board the

[11:56] opportunity for local water

[11:57] sources as both mark and connor

[12:01] mentioned, ultimately, as

[12:04] commissioner mcgraw who used to

[12:06] sit here said that we urgently

[12:10] need to reduce the dependence on

[12:12] local water and then

[12:13] commissioner katz your eloquent

[12:15]

[12:19] exemplifies the best of what we

[12:20] can do in this city the

[12:22] commission discussion around

[12:23] machine owe lake replenishment

[12:26] and water plan has been noticed

[12:28] by so many people since the

[12:30] meeting and we are really

[12:31] hopeful that we can come to an

[12:33] opportunity to work together

[12:34] collaboratively and maybe come

[12:35] up with that lastly I personally

[12:37] want to say I have known you

[12:40] since the day we were two,

[12:43] [laughter]

[12:44] we both had more hair, the

[12:46] tremendous work that you have

[12:48] done, your public service is

[12:51] tremendous and you're going to

[12:53] be well missed in the short time

[12:54] you have been here you have

[12:56] managed to do a lot and I know I

[12:57] speak from the 1400 members of

[13:00] the mono lake committee among

[13:02] other things and thank you for

[13:03] your help and time.

[13:06] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[13:07] very much. I appreciate it.

[13:07] >>board secretary, chante

[13:09] mitchell: the next speaker will

[13:10] be tracy quinn followed by

[13:14] melanie torres.

[13:23] >>speaker: good morning

[13:24] commissioners.

[13:24] >>com. Wilma pinder: good

[13:25] morning.

[13:25] >>speaker: my name is tracy

[13:27] quinn I'm the ceo of heal the

[13:30] bay. I really want to applaud

[13:31] our commissioners and ladwp for

[13:33] your commitment to climate

[13:36] resilience, especially with

[13:37] local water supplies, seeing the

[13:39] expansion of tillman, moving

[13:41] forward, is something that we

[13:42] have all been rooting for, for a

[13:45] very long time. Like many of

[13:47] the speakers before me, I'm

[13:49] really hopeful that this can be

[13:51] part of the solution that helps

[13:53] us to address the crisis that's

[13:55] happening at mono lake. Climate

[13:58] change is hitting us harder and

[14:00] faster than any of us could have

[14:02] expected and it calls on all of

[14:04] us to do more. And, you know,

[14:06] this commission, you know, with

[14:07] some of the former commissioners

[14:10] as well, show tremendous

[14:13] environmental leadership

[14:14] commitment to resilience not

[14:15] only here in los angeles but in

[14:17] all the places that we touch

[14:18] with the work we do and with our

[14:20] infrastructure. So, hoping that

[14:22] we can continue the work that

[14:25] president richard katz has led

[14:27] with trying to be able to invest

[14:30] in projects here that will help

[14:33] restore mono lake to levels that

[14:35] are needed now and in the

[14:37] future. And to president katz,

[14:40] you know, your leadership here

[14:43] at ladwp has been incredible,

[14:47] like, some of the former

[14:49] commenters just -- like, what

[14:50] you have been able to accomplish

[14:51] in such a short time has given

[14:53] are us a lot of hope for what

[14:56] ladwp can be in the future.

[14:59] we're really hopeful that the

[15:00] folks who come in after you and

[15:02] to replace the empty seats here

[15:06] share your commitment to caring

[15:08] deeply for our community and for

[15:09] the environment. So, thank you

[15:11] so much for your public service,

[15:12] and we will miss you dearly.

[15:14] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[15:16] you, tracy, appreciate it. And

[15:17] also thank heal the bay for

[15:19] their ongoing stewardship of our

[15:22] ocean waters and beaches and

[15:26] streams throughout la. It's the

[15:28] gold standard for organizations

[15:29] that I have been really pleased

[15:31] to be part of for a long time.

[15:33] so.

[15:41] >>speaker: good morning.

[15:43] >>pres. Richard katz: hi.

[15:44] >>speaker: good morning. My

[15:45] name is melanie, I'm a community

[15:48] organizer with pacoima beautiful

[15:50] we're an environmental justice

[15:52] non-profit in the northeast san

[15:55] fernando valley. I want to

[15:56] congratulate the board, and want

[15:59] to congratulate the board of

[16:00] water and power commission for

[16:01] both the decision to expand the

[16:03] tillman water reclamation plant

[16:05] and to refresh 40,000 acre feet

[16:09] of groundwater per year and the

[16:11] commission's recognition that

[16:12] this new water supply will

[16:15] enable ladwp deposit mono bake

[16:20] water diversions so that mono

[16:24] lake can restore its healthy

[16:26] 6392 feet of surface elevation

[16:29] through proclaim beautiful I

[16:32] have had the privilege to take

[16:34] community members up to mono

[16:36] lake and for them it's the first

[16:38] time they see birds and such an

[16:42] ecological beauty, mono lake is

[16:44] more than just a body of water

[16:46] it's a living classroom source

[16:48] of inspiration for our

[16:49] community. When they're out

[16:51] there they truly see what's at

[16:55] stake and they return home with

[16:57] a deeper understanding of

[16:58] environmental justice and

[16:59] urgency to take care of shared

[17:01] resources we strongly urge to

[17:03] convey this plan to the state

[17:05] water board and request that the

[17:07] board move expeditiously to

[17:09] implement the common sense win

[17:13] plan and also want to thank

[17:14] president katz for his

[17:16] leadership we appreciate all

[17:17] he's done for los angeles and

[17:19] for mono lake. Thank you all

[17:21] for listening.

[17:23] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[17:23] you.

[17:24] >>board secretary, chante

[17:24] mitchell: next speaker will be

[17:25] john farside. Followed by

[17:30] alejandra garcia.

[17:32] >>speaker: good morning

[17:32] commissioners. My name is john,

[17:34] policy director for crop swap

[17:37] la, we're a south los angeles

[17:40] non-profit focused on resilient

[17:42] community-based water and food

[17:44] systems I'm going to join the

[17:47] chorus here and thank president

[17:49] katz for your leadership and

[17:51] service during your tenure here

[17:53] your long history of public

[17:54] service longer than I have been

[17:56] arrived and it heartens me to

[18:02] hear commissioner katz say we're

[18:05] ready to carry the torch for

[18:07] mono lake here. Recent la times

[18:15] coverage noted we're entering a

[18:17] new era of local water

[18:19] resilience built on wastewater

[18:22] recycling expanded stormwater

[18:24] capture and decentralized green

[18:27] infrastructure, investments

[18:29] strengthen their own reliability

[18:31] also give la flexibility to

[18:34] reduce pressure on the fragile

[18:37] ecosystems mono basin and

[18:39] sensitive areas that have borne

[18:42] the impacts of these historic

[18:44] diversions. The proposal to

[18:47] allocate water is a clear win.

[18:51] using the portion of this new

[18:52] tillman supply to support the

[18:54] local habitat restoration allows

[18:55] for improved ecological

[18:57] conditions mono basin comes at

[18:59] no cost ladwp water rights does

[19:03] not diminish the city's ability

[19:06] to meet demand pairing increased

[19:08] recycling with continued

[19:09] upgrades on stormwater capture

[19:11] saves money in the long run for

[19:13] la. I heard at the last meeting

[19:18] president katz said the next

[19:20] step would be a letter writing

[19:23] the state water board we have a

[19:26] robust coalition that's happy to

[19:29] continue the advocacy. We want

[19:31] to acknowledge and thank you for

[19:32] that idea and commitment I urge

[19:35] the commission to advance that

[19:38] communication to the state board

[19:39] and act promptly on this. La

[19:42] has the chance to lead. Thank

[19:47] you very much for your time.

[19:48] appreciate it.

[19:49] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[19:50] you.

[19:50] >>board secretary, chante

[19:51] mitchell: alejandra garcia.

[19:53] >>speaker: hello my name is

[19:56] alejandra garcia, van nuys,

[20:00] ladwp ratepayer I'm a youth

[20:04] organizer here at pacoima

[20:06] beautiful our mission is to

[20:07] educate advocate for local

[20:09] policy change celebrate arts,

[20:12] and culture to create a

[20:13] healthier more sustainable san

[20:17] fernando valley a acquiring

[20:20] support the solution is simple

[20:27] doable and ensures los angeles

[20:29] has the water it needs while

[20:32] allowing mono lake to raise it

[20:33] to its 6,392 protection level.

[20:36] we ask the full commission to

[20:38] support this plan and to

[20:40] communicate the support to the

[20:41] state water board. Mono lake

[20:43] needs our help and this proposal

[20:45] offers a clear path forward.

[20:48] let's make this plan happen. We

[20:50] also want to thank president

[20:52] katz for his leadership we

[20:54] appreciate all he has done for

[20:55] los angeles and for mono

[20:56] headache, thank you,

[20:59] commissioners for listening.

[21:02] >>com. Nurit katz: if I may,

[21:04] alejandra, thank you for being

[21:06] here we really need the youth

[21:08] voices thank you for taking the

[21:09] time to come here and speak in

[21:11] public we appreciate it. I grew

[21:13] up in van nuys it's good to hear

[21:15] of your leadership in the

[21:17] community, thank you for

[21:20] speaking forward local water

[21:21] support. I'll reiterate my

[21:23] commitment to try and continue

[21:24] the work of president katz.

[21:27] >>speaker: thank you so much.

[21:28] I appreciate it.

[21:29] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[21:30] you.

[21:30] >>board secretary, chante

[21:35] mitchell: the next speaker is

[21:36] william funderburg followed by

[21:40] kim chakins.

[21:52] >>speaker: good morning

[21:53] president katz. I want to begin

[21:56] by recognizing you, and not

[22:00] leaving you an as afterthought.

[22:03] on what I understand is your

[22:04] final meeting. Over the years I

[22:11] have crossed paths with richard

[22:13] in multiple civic and strategic

[22:16] contexts from transportation

[22:17] manning, to environment, to

[22:19] infrastructure equity. And I

[22:22] have relied on his sage council

[22:26] counsel more than once his

[22:29] advice was never performative it

[22:32] was grounded generous and always

[22:34] calibrated to the complexity of

[22:36] the moment. His legacy at ladwp

[22:39] is not just institutional. It's

[22:42] personal to those of us who

[22:44] benefitted from his wisdom.

[22:46] when jules radcliffe introduced

[22:51] me to you, back when kenny hahn

[22:53] was still alive, and jimmy hahn

[22:57] had just been elected city

[23:00] attorney after being controller,

[23:02] rick tutle was controller, yada,

[23:05] yada, yada, I didn't know that

[23:07] my life would change as much as

[23:10] it did from having known and

[23:12] benefitted from your wisdom.

[23:17] that's not to say that I needed

[23:19] more time

[23:20] [laughter]

[23:21] but I may need -- I wanted to

[23:24] comment on every single one of

[23:26] the agenda procurement items,

[23:28] for this reason. That seems to

[23:31] be a misunderstand -- and staff

[23:34] have worked tirelessly since I

[23:37] was on the board with mel, more

[23:40] than ten years ago, to implement

[23:43] equity metrics. And general

[23:49] manager quiñones, gracias, I

[23:55] really appreciate how you have

[23:57] embraced it and continued to

[24:00] imbue it in your culture. I'm

[24:16] concerned though that there is a

[24:18] disconnect with the staff. The

[24:20] white paper that commissioner

[24:21] katz I know has, I think

[24:23] everybody should have a copy of

[24:26] the white paper have you read

[24:28] it? The white paper and its

[24:32] intent and regs losings that

[24:35] followed in 2016 and 2018t

[24:37] wasn't intended to create an

[24:44] administrative burden on dwp it

[24:46] was intended to create

[24:47] transparency and generate

[24:49] efficiency and increase our bond

[24:50] rating, miss santilli, through

[24:53] the increase in efficiency, and

[24:57] so I did put a comment for every

[24:59] one of the items because I have

[25:00] some suggestions and what I was

[25:02] think suggest maybe what I'll do

[25:04] is send these suggestions to

[25:05] staff. President katz, who

[25:08] should I send those to? Because

[25:12] equity metrics --

[25:14] >>com. Nurit katz: let's focus

[25:15] on supply chain and procurement.

[25:18] >>speaker: would that be

[25:21] kendall.

[25:24] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: it

[25:25] depends on what the suggestions

[25:26] are if based on procurement

[25:28] process, john, if equity metrics

[25:35] kendall.

[25:37] >>speaker: but equity metrics

[25:40] incorporate 50 metrics several

[25:41] of which are procurement one

[25:44] scppa at least one of which is

[25:46] pension fund which nobody wants

[25:48] to talk about because it's kind

[25:50] of off limits and the union

[25:52] seems to have little control of

[25:54] it.

[25:54] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[25:55] there's a board for the

[25:57] retirement fund.

[25:59] >>speaker: I understand that

[25:59] but it should be made public

[26:00] where the money is going.

[26:02] >>com. Nurit katz: I would send

[26:02] the comments to kendall and john

[26:04] to start with and they can help

[26:07] route to areas that are not

[26:08] within the purview.

[26:10] >>speaker: I'll close my

[26:11] comments out.

[26:12] >>pres. Richard katz: I think

[26:13] that's a good suggestion, nurit,

[26:15] but also just make sure other

[26:17] commissioners are copied on it

[26:18] so they're aware of it as well.

[26:21] >>speaker: are there any

[26:22] commissioners that left?

[26:23] >>pres. Richard katz: it's a

[26:24] smaller list than it would have

[26:25] been but there are commissioners

[26:27] and I understand there is a new

[26:28] one on the way.

[26:30] >>com. Nurit katz: pending

[26:31] council confirmation we'll have

[26:34] quorum.

[26:34] >>speaker: let me just skip

[26:35] through, last time I testified,

[26:37] I talked about the paucity of

[26:44] mexican american commissioners

[26:46] this century, I think there have

[26:48] been two or three the last one

[26:49] was in 2013, and I don't like to

[26:51] focus on race for a number of

[26:53] reasons, equity metrics, I like

[26:57] to focus on gender, class

[27:10] geographic area I like to focus

[27:12] on things that are not racial I

[27:13] think mexican american isn't a

[27:16] race but I think that because

[27:17] the city is 40% mexican american

[27:20] I know you have no appointment

[27:21] power but I want to note for the

[27:24] record that was requested

[27:25] several names andrea leon

[27:29] grossman, veronica padilla,

[27:37] carlos poras, delia aybara,

[27:43] richard amador, regular salinas

[27:47] and these names were vetted by

[27:49] both irma munoz and tom soda,

[27:52] and I would like to make sure

[27:53] that the mayor's appointment

[27:55] person has those names and they

[27:56] are being considered.

[27:58] >>com. Wilma pinder: I do want

[27:59] to add to that we do not tell

[28:01] the mayor's appointment person I

[28:05] want to be clear.

[28:06] >>speaker: I'm familiar with

[28:07] the rules.

[28:08] >>com. Nurit katz: do you have

[28:09] the right contact info I would

[28:12] be happy to send you the contact

[28:14] info.

[28:15] >>com. Wilma pinder: he knows

[28:16] the process very well.

[28:17] >>speaker: maybe I should just

[28:18] send that to the mayor's office.

[28:21] >>com. Nurit katz: yes, please.

[28:22] >>speaker: and finally I would

[28:23] like to highlight the perma city

[28:27] foundation where I have been a

[28:28] board member and senior advisor,

[28:30] commissioner katz we welcome as

[28:32] a board member of perma city

[28:34] foundation you collaborate with

[28:36] us as you go into whatever the

[28:38] next stage of your life is we're

[28:40] building two data centers that

[28:44] are powered by, exclusively by

[28:48] renewable energy, in the los

[28:50] angeles basin, and aiming to

[28:53] reduce emissions of carbon by

[28:56] 10%. That's pretty much --

[29:00] let's see, pretty much about it.

[29:03] commissioner katz leaves a

[29:04] legacy of service, I urge this

[29:09] board to ensure his successor

[29:12] reflects the equity

[29:14] representation los angeles

[29:16] deserves thank you commissioner

[29:17] pinder, commissioner katz, and

[29:18] commissioner richard katz,

[29:21] graciously.

[29:22] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[29:23] you.

[29:23] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you.

[29:24] >>pres. Richard katz: we'll

[29:25] make sure the names get passed

[29:26] on to the mayor's office, as

[29:28] well.

[29:30] >>speaker: good morning

[29:31] president katz and members of

[29:33] the commission, and staff. At

[29:35] the risk of getting this so

[29:38] richard won't get out of here,

[29:39] because his head will be this

[29:42] big, a couple of comments.

[29:44] politics is relatively easy.

[29:47] governance is really hard. What

[29:49] you all are trying to do to

[29:51] govern is really hard. And the

[29:53] way I see leadership is trying

[29:56] to put those two things together

[29:58] to make things happen. And to

[30:00] do that, you need to be able to

[30:04] see things and you need to be

[30:05] able to hear things. My sense

[30:08] is, president katz, being able

[30:10] to see the connectivity, see the

[30:15] countries where you saw tillman,

[30:19] you saw -- you saw mono lake a

[30:21] long time ago, but you're

[30:24] putting it, and to be able to

[30:25] see that countries, and say we

[30:27] can make something happen, and

[30:29] not let the perfect be the

[30:31] unintentional of the good, try

[30:32] and move something forward and

[30:34] make it happen, you also need to

[30:37] be able to hear and/or read. I

[30:39] know there is 800 plus letters

[30:42] that have been submitted on

[30:43] public record on behalf of what

[30:45] we're all talking about here,

[30:49] connecting tillman and the

[30:50] 40,000 acre feet to the

[30:53] situation in mono lake, which

[30:54] has been happening far too long.

[30:57] in my mind that's what

[30:59] leadership is about, is being

[31:00] able to see that, meld the

[31:03] politics with the governance,

[31:05] make some decisions and get

[31:06] stuff done. So, I would

[31:08] encourage you all to follow the

[31:11] leadership, see the countries,

[31:15] go after it and make the

[31:17] decision to make stuff happen.

[31:18] so, rich afford, thank you for

[31:19] your service, and your

[31:20] leadership.

[31:21] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[31:22] you, ken. Much appreciated.

[31:23] >>board secretary, chante

[31:23] mitchell: the last speaker will

[31:25] be tony wilkinson.

[31:43] >>speaker: tony wilkinson, I

[31:47] chair the dwp neighborhood

[31:48] council memorandum of

[31:50] understanding committee. But

[31:51] I'm here as an individual, and

[31:54] president katz I have personal

[31:56] thanks and some remembrances

[31:58] under item 33. But right now as

[32:00] long as commissioner funderburg

[32:03] mentioned the equity strategy I

[32:04] would like to say, the equity

[32:08] strategies for la 100 it was

[32:12] ended before work was finished

[32:13] and there is a lot more public

[32:15] discussion that needs to go on,

[32:16] on equity strategies. I would

[32:18] like to see that. I also want

[32:21] to thank all of you guys for

[32:22] expanding tillman. Hopefully

[32:23] also some phased recycling from

[32:27] hyperion, which is a giant

[32:28] project. With all respect to

[32:31] the folks who are coming here

[32:32] with their heart out on mono

[32:35] lake, I personally do not think

[32:36] there is any logical connection

[32:38] between the additional water

[32:40] from tillman recycling and mono

[32:42] lake. It is the most expensive

[32:44] water we will have, it's for

[32:46] disaster protection in case we

[32:47] have salt water intrusion

[32:49] somewhere, we're going to put it

[32:51] in our aquifer in east valley to

[32:53] use it when we desperately need

[32:56] it. But if you look at the

[32:57] three terminal lakes famous ones

[33:00] in the west, salt on lake,

[33:03] salton sea, mono lake, salt on

[33:05] lake and salton sea are starts,

[33:14] ecological disasters mono lake

[33:15] is the only healthy one of the

[33:17] three, because of its care and

[33:21] streams and environments and

[33:23] ladwp know it is needs it water

[33:25] when we can't get it anyone else

[33:28] even if we recycle everybody

[33:30] from tillman and hyperion we

[33:32] would still be dependent as a

[33:34] city we couldn't live without it

[33:37] there is no alternative to the

[33:39] water we have in mono, and I

[33:41] respectfully think it should not

[33:42] be connected. Thank you.

[33:44] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[33:44] you.

[33:47] okay?

[33:48] >>com. Nurit katz: I think

[33:49] that's everybody.

[33:50] >>board secretary, chante

[33:50] mitchell: public comment is now

[33:51] closed.

[33:52] >>com. Nurit katz: may I make a

[33:53] comment, richard?

[33:54] >>pres. Richard katz: sure.

[33:55] >>com. Nurit katz: so, I'll

[33:56] save my richard comments for

[33:58] later, president richard katz

[34:01] comments for later. I did want

[34:03] to thank all commenters today

[34:05] who even with differing

[34:07] perspectives we just heard all

[34:09] recognize the importance of

[34:10] local water sources near la this

[34:12] is a deep commitment of this

[34:14] board and the mayor's office to

[34:15] push towards our servant% local

[34:17] water. So, thank you to mono

[34:19] lake committee, pacoima

[34:21] beautiful, crop swap well. A,

[34:23] heal the bay, commissioner

[34:24] funderberg, mark gold and others

[34:26] who spoke today, tony wilkinson.

[34:29] but a number of you also spoke

[34:31] to equity strategies which is

[34:33] something that we are also

[34:34] deeply committed to on this

[34:35] board. The equity strategies

[34:38] work for la 100 continues and

[34:40] we're actually expanding the

[34:46] equity work to the water side

[34:47] stay tuned to that with the

[34:50] equity and environmental focus

[34:51] in comments today I want to take

[34:53] a moment to recognize the

[34:54] passing of a very important

[34:56] environmental justice leader in

[34:58] the community, jesse marquez,

[35:00] who was the founder of coalition

[35:02] for a safe environment and

[35:04] advocated tirelessly for the

[35:05] community of wilmington in

[35:07] reducing diesel emissions. We

[35:09] don't get to where we're going

[35:11] on our own, as government, and

[35:14] the activists and advocates who

[35:15] are out there on the front lines

[35:17] and supporting our communities

[35:20] have an incredibly important

[35:21] role to play as we transition to

[35:24] local water, as we transition to

[35:26] renewable energy. So, just

[35:28] wanted to take a moment to honor

[35:30] his passing. Then I also wanted

[35:33] to take a moment, because it is

[35:34] november, and november is native

[35:36] american her at that time month,

[35:38] and I have now stepped up at the

[35:40] tribal engagement committee

[35:42] member. And I want to recognize

[35:43] an important milestone that just

[35:47] happened in the city where the

[35:49] los angeles city council adopted

[35:50] a citywide land acknowledgment

[35:53] for the city of los angeles

[35:54] focused on our area here this

[35:56] was the work of la civil rights,

[36:00] the civil human rights equity

[36:02] department and went through a

[36:04] number of committees I want to

[36:06] while we're still at the start

[36:08] of our meeting just read the new

[36:10] acknowledgment that's been

[36:11] approved.

[36:12] so, the county of los angeles

[36:13] recognizes that we occupy land

[36:13] originally and still inhabited

[36:14] and cared for by the tongva,

[36:24] tataviam, serrano, kizh, and

[36:25] chumash peoples. We honor and

[36:27] pay respect to their elders and

[36:27] descendants - past, present, and

[36:28] emerging - as they continue

[36:29] their stewardship of these lands

[36:29] and waters. Resulted in land

[36:30] seizure, disease, subjugation,

[36:31] slavery, relocation, broken

[36:43] promises, genocide, and

[36:43] multigenerational trauma. This

[36:51] acknowledgment demonstrates our

[36:52] responsibility and commitment to

[36:59] truth, healing, and

[36:59] reconciliation and to elevating

[37:00] the stories, culture, and

[37:01] community of the original

[37:01] inhabitants of los angeles

[37:02] county. We are grateful for the

[37:03] opportunity to live and work on

[37:03] these ancestral lands.

[37:04] we also honor the

[37:05] self-attestation of the current

[37:07] mission based tribes confirming

[37:11] their connection to the

[37:12] ancestral lands which we live

[37:14] and work today the gabrieleno

[37:20] san gabriel band of mission

[37:22] indians led by the gabrieleno

[37:29] tongva tribal council, the

[37:33] gabrieleno band of mission

[37:34] indians kizh nation, the

[37:38] fernandeno tataviam band of

[37:38] mission indians and the northern

[37:41] chumash tribal council. I want

[37:42] to say that a land

[37:42] acknowledgment is the beginning,

[37:46] not the end of this work. That

[37:47] a land acknowledgment is the

[37:48] beginning and not the end of

[37:48] this work we have much work

[37:49] ahead of us to continue to

[37:49] repair and build these

[37:50] relationships this tribal

[37:51] acknowledgment was developed for

[37:51] the land here in the city of los

[37:52] angeles but especially as we

[37:53] talk about mono lake in indio

[37:53] county I want to acknowledge

[37:54] that our use of water here in

[37:55] los angeles has impacts *north,

[37:55] as well, so, I want to

[37:56] acknowledge that we will

[37:57] continue to build and develop

[37:57] relationships and reciprocity

[37:58] with the tribes in the owens

[37:59] valley and in payahunados. So

[38:05] this is the beginning, not the

[38:07] end of this journey. But want

[38:10] to take a moment to recognize

[38:16] native american heritage month.

[38:19] thank you.

[38:20] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[38:22] nurit. Other comments? Comment

[38:24] by commissioners. If not we'll

[38:26] go to janisse.

[38:27] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[38:31] thank you. I want to

[38:32] acknowledge native american

[38:34] heritage month november is the

[38:37] month to recognize our tribes

[38:38] and partners in la a time to

[38:40] reflect, learn and honor the

[38:42] enduring legacies and cultures

[38:44] and contributions of native

[38:47] american peoples across the

[38:48] united states. This month

[38:50] invites us to recognize the

[38:51] profound and lasting impact

[38:54] native community have had on

[38:56] shaping the lands values and

[38:57] histories of this country, since

[39:01] time immemorial and continuing

[39:05] to this day we work hard on

[39:07] building the relationships with

[39:09] the tribes in owens valley and

[39:12] here in la we're grateful for

[39:14] the partnership. I want to

[39:15] acknowledge veterans day which

[39:17] happened november 11th we have

[39:19] an event today around 12:30

[39:22] celebrating our veterans very

[39:24] important day to celebrate the

[39:25] sacrifices of our service

[39:26] members and how they support the

[39:28] freedoms and values of this

[39:29] country and now more than ever

[39:31] this day represents a lot for

[39:32] our employees that continue to

[39:35] serve the communities as

[39:38] employees of the department, and

[39:40] the city of la. With that, I'm

[39:42] going to pass to dave hanson to

[39:46] talk about the power system. We

[39:48] have a couple of events that

[39:49] happened in navajo and the

[39:52] lineman's rodeo in kansas also

[39:57] update on the storms that we

[39:58] just had, and more rain coming

[40:00] through. Dave.

[40:03] >>dave hanson: as usual the ceo

[40:05] covered it all I'll pass it to

[40:07] anselmo.

[40:08] [laughter]

[40:08] we're going to talk about the

[40:10] lineman's rodeo last board

[40:12] meeting we went long so we're

[40:13] carrying it forward if this

[40:15] meeting. This occurred

[40:18] october 15th through 18th this

[40:20] kansas city our international

[40:22] line workers rodeo that we

[40:24] participate in every year dwp

[40:25] had a showing with multiple

[40:27] individuals working across the

[40:29] stage to receive awards we're

[40:31] very proud of them. Apprentice

[40:33] category mr. Pierce placed first

[40:37] in the municipal division and

[40:40] 5th overall, mr. Brian gabelli

[40:44] second in the municipal division

[40:47] overall 14th overall in the

[40:54] journeyman category dustin rose

[40:56] tom crevier and george jiminez

[41:01] placed third in the municipal

[41:03] division 19th overall mr. Marco

[41:03] jimenez efrain bularrn, jr. And

[41:04] martine rivera placed 5th in

[41:05] senior division.

[41:09] congratulations to them all very

[41:10] proud. Power transmission

[41:12] distribution crews along with

[41:14] power construction and

[41:14] maintenance crews recently

[41:16] completed a successful mutual

[41:17] aid training exercise with

[41:20] navajo nation approximately 63

[41:24] employees worked 12 hour shifts

[41:26] six days a week four weeks

[41:29] during the effort the team

[41:30] installed 547 poles strung 44

[41:35] miles of conductor and placed 16

[41:38] transformers 11 homes were

[41:40] energized for the first time in

[41:42] history many generations of

[41:45] family living in those

[41:46] structures they assisted

[41:50] rewiring several other houses to

[41:52] ensure they passed inspection

[41:55] this highlights the dedication

[41:57] and expertise of our crews and

[41:59] commitment to mutual training

[42:02] that will support underserved

[42:04] communities. This weekend we

[42:07] saw the rain hit us in an

[42:09] unprecedented the manner this

[42:11] weekend infer 14th to 17th we

[42:13] experienced a significant rain

[42:14] storm overall we fared well we

[42:21] had a total of 76 outages

[42:27] affecting 59,000 customers not

[42:30] all at once, the largest impact

[42:33] of the storm was are yesterday

[42:35] at distribution station two we

[42:37] had a roof leak that intruded

[42:40] inside the station and caused

[42:42] some equipment to flash over

[42:43] that resulted in peak outage

[42:46] just over 23,000 customers

[42:49] average ever 40 crews working

[42:52] tirelessly throughout the four

[42:54] days restoring customer power we

[42:57] completed 773 trouble calls

[43:01] majority of outages were short

[43:03] in duration. Restoration of

[43:06] service. November 8th we did

[43:09] have a large area outage when we

[43:12] lost an entire receiving station

[43:15] mid-city receiving station delta

[43:17] it was unplanned outage due to

[43:19] an issue on the 138,000 volt

[43:22] side root cause under

[43:25] investigation we're finding out

[43:27] exactly what happened there.

[43:28] that's all I have. Actually,

[43:30] also, we did have an injury

[43:32] during the storm. One of our

[43:34] line patrol mechanics out there

[43:36] working in the rain fell 12 feet

[43:39] from a ladder he was transported

[43:42] to a local hospital treated and

[43:44] releases and we expect him to

[43:45] make a full recovery. That's it

[43:46] for my report.

[43:50] [off-mic indiscernible]

[43:51] will do. Thank you, sir.

[43:51] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[43:53] I'll add that mutual aid is an

[43:55] important component of our

[43:56] training and last year -- this

[43:58] year, actually -- it's been a

[44:01] long year, this year, navajo

[44:04] nation came to support us during

[44:06] the wildfires so we were in

[44:09] navajo nation this time, but the

[44:11] relationship that crews have

[44:12] built creates a lot of trust so

[44:13] when they come in to help us in

[44:15] our territory, are already

[44:19] established it's a role both

[44:22] teams play to support each

[44:25] other.

[44:26] >>dave hanson: when we were in

[44:28] the middle of the palisades

[44:30] during the emergency navarro

[44:32] called us and said we're on the

[44:33] way; we didn't even ask.

[44:33] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[44:37] first time with mutual aid it

[44:39] was a big step in the right

[44:41] direction.

[44:54] >>pres. Richard katz: it was

[44:55] impressive they came and brought

[44:57] their own instructions.

[44:57] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[45:00] also dwp supporting the event we

[45:02] learned a lot through that I the

[45:03] to highlight during the storm

[45:06] preparations we had our

[45:07] emergency management department

[45:08] working with power to get ahead

[45:09] of the storm and communications

[45:12] to ensure that we were able to

[45:13] talk to our customers about our

[45:15] preparations and keep them

[45:17] updated as we fared pretty well.

[45:23] every time it rains in la it's a

[45:25] major event.

[45:31] I'm going to pass it to dan

[45:38] aeschleman to talk about our

[45:41] campaigns.

[45:43] >>dan aeschleman: thank you

[45:44] janisse first I want to

[45:45] highlight the annual flu vaccine

[45:47] event at ladwp we do every year

[45:52] we had it at the building

[45:55] training facility to make it

[45:57] accessible for all employees.

[45:59] we had almost 350 employees

[46:01] participate in that event an

[46:02] uptick from each year since the

[46:05] pandemic happened which we're

[46:08] excited about. The disease

[46:09] control prevention indicates

[46:11] getting the flu vaccine is

[46:13] important during the flu season

[46:17] to protect yourself. Ladwp is

[46:20] proud to make this preventative

[46:24] carefree and accessible each

[46:26] year. We had our annual ladwp

[46:32] safety week which was a huge

[46:33] success we had tremendous

[46:35] unprecedented the participation

[46:36] in that event. We had 4,069

[46:41] employees take a pledge to

[46:43] safety during that week. And we

[46:45] also had almost 9500

[46:49] interactions and participants in

[46:51] the events 9500 participations

[46:53] in those individual events

[46:55] during that week. That was a

[46:56] really exciting response and we

[46:57] want to take time to acknowledge

[46:58] and thank all those who

[47:00] participated not only those that

[47:02] planned this event to make this

[47:06] a success this week. Looking

[47:09] forward to report-out next year

[47:10] it's an ongoing event for us.

[47:13] >>pres. Richard katz: great.

[47:13] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: we

[47:14] saw the navajo teams during

[47:16] stand down during safety we they

[47:18] took their time to participate

[47:20] in the safety week. It was

[47:22] widespread across the department

[47:23] and well-received by our

[47:24] employees. I'm going to pass it

[47:26] off to joe for the briefing

[47:29] update and a couple of awards

[47:31] that comms teams have received.

[47:34] >>speaker: good morning

[47:34] commissioners I want to

[47:35] highlight we have completed the

[47:37] 2024, 2025 briefing book this is

[47:41] a compilation from across the

[47:43] department in terms of policies

[47:44] programs and initiatives that

[47:46] really encapsulates in one place

[47:48] a resource book for stakeholders

[47:50] policy makers as well as the

[47:51] public it can be found online at

[47:53] ladwp.com forward slash reports

[48:00] if anyone would like to read it

[48:03] one of the key parts of what we

[48:06] focus on working to educate our

[48:08] customers public and policy

[48:09] makers about our operations. We

[48:11] do that well we invite to you

[48:13] take a look at it we have extra

[48:15] copies I want to thank are the

[48:17] communications team graphics

[48:18] team our print shop for pulling

[48:20] it together. A significant

[48:22] effort one we have been

[48:24] undertaking now since 2013 a

[48:28] publication initiated back then

[48:30] and we have published every

[48:33] since. The department was

[48:35] recognized by the american

[48:36] public power association during

[48:37] the excellence and public power

[48:40] communications awards that's for

[48:42] ladwp intake, intake has been

[48:46] published for over 100 years by

[48:51] the department's public affairs

[48:52] and communications team we took

[48:53] it online a couple of years ago

[48:56] it's a beautiful publication

[48:59] encapsulates day-to-day week to

[49:01] week month to month work here at

[49:04] the department initiatives

[49:07] employees really telling their

[49:08] story. The intake took the

[49:11] award of excellence in print and

[49:12] digital category this year and I

[49:14] want to thank the team and

[49:15] congratulate the team for their

[49:16] work on that some of the members

[49:18] are here with us now. And

[49:19] before we recognize them, I also

[49:22] want to highlight a really proud

[49:25] award that we received, regan

[49:29] communications is a national

[49:30] organization comprised of

[49:31] communications and marketing

[49:33] profiles, and this year we took

[49:35] home the zenith ward of

[49:38] distinction in the platforms

[49:41] technology category for the

[49:44] water quality dashboard web site

[49:45] that was created during response

[49:47] to the palisades fire while

[49:50] working to restore water quality

[49:51] to over 8,000 customers who were

[49:55] impacted this was built on arc

[49:59] gis story maps it was the first

[50:02] of its kind set the bar for how

[50:05] community respond and shares in

[50:09] a transparent manner the

[50:10] information that customers now

[50:12] expect they want to see water

[50:13] quality results, the dashboard

[50:17] and all the work our team did to

[50:20] compile and present was

[50:23] recognized by a national

[50:24] organization. I want to thank

[50:25] the sometimes led by water

[50:27] quality, together with it and

[50:28] communication, tremendous team

[50:29] effort. Norma started her job a

[50:35] few weeks before justin sarris,

[50:40] sun chung water quality jonathon

[50:45] leong casal, rachael,

[50:49] communications really core team

[50:52] congratulations award well

[50:54] deserved thank you all for your

[50:56] work.

[50:57] >>pres. Richard katz: let me

[50:57] just add in addition to the

[50:59] thanks to the commission and

[51:04] everyone for the work joe and

[51:05] the department's doing the

[51:08] increased outreach with all the

[51:10] publications beneficial to the

[51:13] mission of dwp all employees and

[51:16] folks that are trying to get

[51:17] done the more they get the word

[51:19] out, when you drill down and see

[51:22] how it all fits together it

[51:23] makes a lot more sense because

[51:25] we're all interdependent on each

[51:29] other particularly in this

[51:31] department getting the story out

[51:32] and successes is huge and joe

[51:36] thank you for expanding that.

[51:39] >>com. Wilma pinder: in-house

[51:41] saves quite a bit of money.

[51:43] appreciate that.

[51:44] >>com. Nurit katz: yeah I'll

[51:45] echo that and say

[51:46] congratulations to you and the

[51:47] team on these awards. You know,

[51:49] having had friends and family

[51:50] impacted by the palisades fire I

[51:52] know that water quality

[51:54] dashboard really was important

[51:55] to the community and really made

[51:57] a difference. So,

[51:59] congratulations on that. Also

[52:00] great to hear about the safety

[52:01] efforts. In terms of the storm,

[52:03] you know, our crews do amazing

[52:06] work every day but I'm

[52:07] particularly grateful when there

[52:08] is conditions like this and to

[52:10] the 40 crews that were out there

[52:12] working in the heavy rain, we

[52:14] definitely are grateful for your

[52:17] service as well as the emergency

[52:19] management group. And I'll echo

[52:22] president katz in wishing a

[52:25] smooth recovery to the employee

[52:28] who was injured. Also want to

[52:30]

[52:33] just passed thank you to ceo

[52:36] quiñones for her service and

[52:37] also dave you were reality

[52:39] highlighted as part of the 250th

[52:41] anniversary of the navy for your

[52:43] position as electricians first

[52:45] class subservice.

[52:47] >>pres. Richard katz: at the

[52:48] start.

[52:50] >>dave hanson: yes.

[52:51] >>pres. Richard katz: been

[52:54] doing this for a while.

[52:57] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you

[52:58] for your service both for the

[52:59] work you did to make sure that

[53:02] our valor group got established

[53:04] and that we support veterans

[53:06] every day in this organization.

[53:09] >>dave hanson: thank you.

[53:10] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[53:11] I'll add, the dashboard has

[53:14] become the standard of the

[53:16] industry and so people are

[53:17] expecting this. Do you want to

[53:18] add?

[53:19] >>anselmo collins: sure. Can I

[53:20] tell you that every year we meet

[53:22] with the division of drinking

[53:23] water and we have our meeting

[53:26] maybe a month and a half ago and

[53:28] I made that comment and just

[53:30] having several members of the

[53:31] commission drinking water there,

[53:32] and I did talk about the fact

[53:34] that we were able to do a really

[53:35] good job with the dashboard and

[53:37] basically a story map. And they

[53:39] all agreed that this kind of

[53:41] sets a new bar for the

[53:43] expectation on transparency when

[53:45] we have these incidents. And I

[53:47] took the opportunity to

[53:48] highlight to them that when we

[53:50] were finally able to remove the

[53:54] do not drink notice, there was a

[53:56] lot of media attention on that

[53:57] day. And the media went around

[54:02] and was talking to some of the

[54:03] customers, they went up and

[54:06] talked to a gentleman and asked

[54:08] do you trust the water is safe

[54:09] to drink and the gentleman said

[54:12] I have been looking at the web

[54:14] site I see all results they

[54:16] posted and I am comfortable the

[54:18] water is safe to drink. Right

[54:20] there, it demonstrated that the

[54:24] work joe's team and water

[54:25] quality staff jonathon did as

[54:27] well was worth it because it

[54:31] demonstrated transparency we

[54:37] brought a lot of information in

[54:38] an easy way to search one of the

[54:41] challenges we had was

[54:43] communication pressure zones

[54:45] that the average person doesn't

[54:46] know what that is so putting

[54:48] that information in a way that

[54:50] was easy to search and

[54:52] understand makes a big

[54:55] difference so the division of

[54:56] drinking water is appreciative

[54:58] they didn't say that and it's

[55:00] going to become the standard but

[55:02] I did get the wink and nod.

[55:06] >>pres. Richard katz: we're

[55:07] more than happy to lead that

[55:09] parade. Congratulations to your

[55:10] team and joe's as well and

[55:12] everybody who makes that happen.

[55:15] one of the great things is we

[55:16] have an opportunity to show it's

[55:18] just not theory, not just on

[55:22] paper, but in realtime how it

[55:24] makes a difference in people's

[55:26] lives that's what dwp does day

[55:29] in and day out sometimes it

[55:30] takes a crisis or emergency for

[55:33] people to understand it but also

[55:35] an opportunities to tell stories

[55:36] and stories that need to be

[55:37] told.

[55:38] >>com. Nurit katz: it is and I

[55:39] think it also points back to

[55:40] commissioner funderburg's

[55:42] comments earlier about the

[55:43] importance of transparency. I

[55:44] think those comments you just

[55:45] shared illustrate the power of

[55:48] transparency and really sharing

[55:49] the hard work that this

[55:50] department is doing and really,

[55:53] including the public in

[55:54] everything that we do. It just

[55:56] creates stronger trust. It just

[55:59] creates a purpose relationship

[56:00] so that a fantastic example with

[56:13] of that. Thank you.

[56:15] >>anselmo collins: when it

[56:16] rains we're concerned about the

[56:17] system and challenges but on the

[56:19] other hand the hand opportunity

[56:20] to do capture of stormwater I

[56:22] want to hospital that first of

[56:24] all this november is probably

[56:27] one of the wettest novembers we

[56:29] have had in the last 40 years in

[56:32] los angeles we typically get in

[56:33] the whole season 15 inches 15

[56:37] inches of rain. In this water

[56:38] year we started october 1st we

[56:40] already got in downtown la 3.7

[56:43] inches over 3% of normal. In

[56:47] the san fernando valley around

[56:48] 5.7 inches of water.

[56:49] >>pres. Richard katz:

[56:50] yesterday, I think.

[56:51] [laughter]

[56:52] >>anselmo collins: yeah and

[56:53] more to come which is great.

[56:54] what it means, we have been able

[56:57] to capture a little over 3

[56:59] billion gallons of water. So,

[57:01] all efforts we have made and

[57:04] investments we have made in

[57:05] stormwater capture are paying

[57:07] off for us. I can tell you as

[57:08] of november 1st, once again, we

[57:13] captured 13 thousand hundred 27

[57:21] acre feet of water. Water used

[57:24] to recharge the san fernando

[57:26] basin collaboration between us,

[57:28] la county, and I'm going to

[57:30] continue to report on our water

[57:32] supply conditions moving forward

[57:34] hopefully every meeting, in

[57:38] addition precipitation here in

[57:39] la and eastern sierras as well.

[57:42] november 12th we did host a

[57:44] games water council executive

[57:46] meeting the games are quickly

[57:49] approaching. We're 969 days

[57:51] away from the olympic games here

[57:53] in la and for the first time

[57:55] ever we actually have a games

[57:57] water council. The meeting was

[57:59] well attended at the lacrosse

[58:01] innovation center we had over 20

[58:03] agencies that participated

[58:05] including commissioner katz that

[58:07] was there, the mayor's office

[58:08] and many other folks that were

[58:10] there, the office of public

[58:12] accountability was there as

[58:13] well. It was opportunity for us

[58:16] to collaborate and coordinate

[58:18] efforts. As you know the

[58:19] olympic games are not only in

[58:21] the city of la, also in cities

[58:24] adjacent we need to collaborate

[58:26] to make sure everybody is

[58:28] prepared we have developed

[58:29] several committees procured by

[58:31] different agencies and

[58:32] everything with the effort to

[58:33] make sure that from a water

[58:35] perspective the games go out

[58:37] without a hitch. So, I wanted

[58:39] to pass that along. Because the

[58:40] state of la, dwp, is taking a

[58:44] leadership role when it comes to

[58:48] olympic games, energy council

[58:50] and games water council.

[58:53] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[58:53] you. A lot of hard work. The

[58:56] one city, oklahoma

[58:58] [laughter]

[58:58] we're going to get them in there

[59:00] too.

[59:02] >>anselmo collins: also they

[59:04] participated in a hybrid

[59:05] meeting.

[59:05] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[59:07] that leadership, we have never

[59:11] had a games water council in the

[59:12] history of olympics. It's a

[59:14] very important commodity for the

[59:16] games and having that

[59:18] collaboration between all the

[59:19] agencies is really critical,

[59:20] especially during emergency

[59:22] response. And.

[59:25] >>com. Nurit katz: and I

[59:26] especially appreciated the

[59:28] efforts of the water council to

[59:34] the heat and climate resilience

[59:36] aspects which are being tackled

[59:38] and which water will play a key

[59:39] role in. Thank you.

[59:42] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[59:42] you.

[59:43] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: my

[59:43] last comment I want to

[59:44] acknowledge in the mono headache

[59:47] committee members report and

[59:49] comments have high respect for

[59:53] your emission. I know more

[59:56] about mono lake than I would

[59:58] ever know about mono lake like I

[1:00:00] never knew mono lake and now I

[1:00:02] know mono lake that speaks to

[1:00:04] your commitment of educating

[1:00:06] stakeholders and the public and

[1:00:07] I think that's really important

[1:00:09] and commendable. I would say my

[1:00:11] position in the department's

[1:00:13] position is that we're open to

[1:00:15] an updated state water board

[1:00:18] study. It's been over 20 years

[1:00:19] since the last study happened,

[1:00:21] and as mentioned climate change

[1:00:23] has impacted many things but

[1:00:25] also our workplan has increased

[1:00:28] significant he and what we had

[1:00:30] 20 years ago is not what we're

[1:00:31] having today and what we will

[1:00:33] have in 20 years. Right? So

[1:00:35] our water plan, infrastructure

[1:00:36] plans continue to increase, our

[1:00:38] investment in local water

[1:00:39] continues to increase. And

[1:00:41] really understanding what that

[1:00:42] looks like for the next 25 years

[1:00:43] will be important to educate us

[1:00:45] on what's the best approach. We

[1:00:47] continue to operate based on our

[1:00:49] annual operating man, which

[1:00:51] involves all the stakeholders,

[1:00:53] including mono lake committee,

[1:00:55] and we maintain that position to

[1:00:56] stay in the context of that

[1:00:58] plan. And I will be remiss to

[1:01:01] not mention that we have

[1:01:02] invested over $50 million to

[1:01:04] restore mono lake since the

[1:01:06] study was done, 20 years ago and

[1:01:09] we continue to be committed to

[1:01:11] that mission. So, thank you.

[1:01:13] that's it.

[1:01:14] >>pres. Richard katz: if I was

[1:01:14] going to be cynical I would say

[1:01:16] it's the least we can do at mono

[1:01:20] lake considering.

[1:01:20] [laughter]

[1:01:21] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[1:01:21] yeah but one of the things -- it

[1:01:23] might sound simple, just don't

[1:01:25] take water.

[1:01:26] >>pres. Richard katz: it's not

[1:01:27] simple.

[1:01:28] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: for

[1:01:28] me mono lake is very concerned

[1:01:31] about mono lake for me as ceo of

[1:01:34] dwp I have to be concerned about

[1:01:36] mono lake, owens valley, la

[1:01:38] operations, environmental

[1:01:40] impacts not just to mono lake

[1:01:41] but also endangered species

[1:01:44] across the aqueduct

[1:01:45] affordability equity and many

[1:01:46] other issues. It's not as easy

[1:01:50] as people think stop taking

[1:01:52] water at mono lake there is a

[1:01:54] lot that goes into it that's why

[1:01:56] we're supportive of a

[1:01:58] comprehensive study. It's not

[1:01:59] an easy solution.

[1:01:59] >>pres. Richard katz:

[1:02:01] [laughter]

[1:02:02] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[1:02:02] that's it.

[1:02:03] >>pres. Richard katz: all

[1:02:04] right. Moving along. N1.

[1:02:13] >>board secretary, chante

[1:02:14] mitchell: ratepayer advocate.

[1:02:16] >>pres. Richard katz: tim. I'm

[1:02:17] sorry.

[1:02:19] >>tim o'connor: thank you

[1:02:20] president katz.

[1:02:20] >>pres. Richard katz: you were

[1:02:21] so quiet this morning. Welcome.

[1:02:23] tim o'connor.

[1:02:26] >>com. Wilma pinder: waiting to

[1:02:27] strike.

[1:02:28] [laughter]

[1:02:29] >>tim o'connor: I appreciate

[1:02:29] the opportunity to provide

[1:02:31] comment today. Office of

[1:02:33] accountability has had

[1:02:34] substantive conversations with

[1:02:35] the staff on a range of items

[1:02:37] before the board today,

[1:02:39] including items 9 through 11, 19

[1:02:43] through 21, 27, and 31 through

[1:02:48] 33, of course, number 33, and

[1:02:51] item 18, which we provided

[1:02:53] written comments about.

[1:02:55] opa's review and discussion of

[1:03:00] these items focus on the

[1:03:02] relevance. Individual items for

[1:03:03] supporting the utility

[1:03:05] effectiveness as well as the

[1:03:08] reasonableness of the

[1:03:10] assumptions and calculations

[1:03:11] upon which they're based in

[1:03:13] reviewing the items we found

[1:03:14] each one of them we reviewed

[1:03:17] were reasonable and we offer no

[1:03:18] written comments other than

[1:03:20] those provided on item number

[1:03:22] eight. Item eight focuses on

[1:03:24] the approval of a contract, two

[1:03:26] contracts, before the board

[1:03:27] regarding marginal cost studies

[1:03:29] and rate consulting services.

[1:03:31] we offer comments on these

[1:03:33] because these two items and what

[1:03:37] they portend future rate making

[1:03:46] activities by the department are

[1:03:47] critical for supporting

[1:03:48] long-term affordability for

[1:03:50] reasonableness of rates and

[1:03:51] department effectiveness and

[1:03:53] maintaining a strong financial

[1:03:55] position. We look forward to

[1:03:56] participating in those

[1:03:57] processes. We have heard

[1:04:02] already done speaking with the

[1:04:05] fso team and indicated that opa

[1:04:07] will have an active role going

[1:04:09] forward and how item 18 in the

[1:04:14] contract are executed and we

[1:04:16] look forward to that dialogue.

[1:04:17] as it relates to, of course,

[1:04:19] item 33, we very much appreciate

[1:04:25] the guidance that the board has

[1:04:29] given opa to take an active role

[1:04:32] in looking at the calculations,

[1:04:35] the assumptions, and each of the

[1:04:38] individual items that have come

[1:04:39] before the board. And with your

[1:04:41] guidance, president katz, we

[1:04:44] have leaned in on that role, and

[1:04:47] we appreciate your willingness

[1:04:49] and openness to receive our

[1:04:51] comments as we have gone forward

[1:04:52] and look forward to continue to

[1:04:54] do that with the commission, you

[1:04:56] know, going forward. One item I

[1:04:59] do want to put out there is that

[1:05:01] we have had an active agenda

[1:05:05] over the last month at the

[1:05:07] office of public accountability,

[1:05:10] visiting many of the critical

[1:05:11] infrastructure sites of the

[1:05:13] utility. In the last month, we

[1:05:15] have visited the la aqueduct

[1:05:19] filtration plant, the energy

[1:05:20] control center, valley

[1:05:22] generating station, the

[1:05:23] truesdale training facility, the

[1:05:26] castaic pumped hydra facility on

[1:05:28] top of the past visited at the e

[1:05:32] land solar plus storage facility

[1:05:40] as well as tillman site. And

[1:05:41] with the help of the secretary

[1:05:43] of the commission miss mitchell

[1:05:45] and the help of staff from the

[1:05:46] water and powers is we got to

[1:05:48] see not only the critical

[1:05:50] infrastructure but the people

[1:05:51] behind making this critical

[1:05:53] infrastructure work and the

[1:05:54] department has been so welcoming

[1:05:55] and open in those dialogues and

[1:05:58] has really helped our office

[1:05:59] understand the operations as

[1:06:00] well as the kind of puts and

[1:06:05] takes challenges and

[1:06:07] opportunities at each that helps

[1:06:09] us look at what's coming down

[1:06:10] the pike of which we know that

[1:06:14] there is pretty big items that

[1:06:16] the department is going to face

[1:06:17] in terms of investments and

[1:06:19] infrastructure upgrades going

[1:06:20] forward and we look forward to

[1:06:21] that ongoing dialogue. I'll

[1:06:23] close with saying that when we

[1:06:25] look at all items before the

[1:06:27] board today there is a number of

[1:06:29] individual expenditures and a

[1:06:31] raft of things before the board,

[1:06:32] going forward, you know, it's

[1:06:34] challenging, of course, for this

[1:06:36] board to look at these in a

[1:06:38] process of evaluating each of

[1:06:44] these. So, we would recommend

[1:06:45] that as this board continues to

[1:06:48] staff up and to replace the

[1:06:50] commissioners, that it be done

[1:06:52] so with ongoing enhancements in

[1:06:55] the level of support that are

[1:06:58] provided to the commissioners

[1:07:00] themselves. This is a

[1:07:01] significant undertaking. And

[1:07:03] with the staff's support, the

[1:07:06] staff at the department there is

[1:07:09] a lot of really important

[1:07:10] information that's considered

[1:07:11] but we do recommend in the

[1:07:14] reconstitution of the board

[1:07:15] additional support and

[1:07:16] opportunities for opa and for

[1:07:18] analysis to be given to the

[1:07:19] board as it continues to think

[1:07:24] through all important endeavors

[1:07:27] and investments that are coming

[1:07:28] before the board

[1:07:29] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you.

[1:07:30] we really appreciate that

[1:07:30] recommendation and always

[1:07:31] appreciate all support and

[1:07:33] insights from opa.

[1:07:34] >>com. Wilma pinder: and as I

[1:07:35] have said, too, the general

[1:07:37] audience today, when -- when the

[1:07:40] comment was made about the --

[1:07:42] who comes on to this board, you

[1:07:44] have connect -- you have a

[1:07:46] direct line to the mayor and

[1:07:49] other people who -- and the

[1:07:51] council, who make these

[1:07:53] decisions. We really don't, as

[1:07:55] you know, have our hands on

[1:07:58] those reins at all. And I can

[1:08:01] certainly say as a person now

[1:08:03] who has served for over a year

[1:08:05] and a half, that it's a great

[1:08:08] demand on our time and interest.

[1:08:09] we're fortunate that even the

[1:08:11] public who comes before us, and

[1:08:13] even if they're shaking their

[1:08:16] fingers at us, they have a right

[1:08:17] to do that, and I respect that.

[1:08:19] and they want this board to do

[1:08:22] all the things it's supposed to

[1:08:24] do. So, anything that you, as

[1:08:26] our ratepayer advocate can do to

[1:08:29] make sure that the people who

[1:08:30] come to this board understand

[1:08:33] the great demand, I don't think

[1:08:35] the general public -- I know my

[1:08:38] acquaintances are always shocked

[1:08:39] when I say this is not a paying

[1:08:42] board. And then they say, you

[1:08:43] know, you couldn't pay me to be

[1:08:45] on that board.

[1:08:46] [laughter]

[1:08:47] so, this is a no-win situation,

[1:08:50] pay or no pay, people realize

[1:08:53] that -- I don't want to say the

[1:08:55] buck stops here, but many do

[1:08:57] think that it does. So that, is

[1:08:59] why you will always see me very

[1:09:01] quick to respond with a smile or

[1:09:04] not a smile, to the audience,

[1:09:06] because I want the public to

[1:09:10] understand we are extremely

[1:09:13] conscientious here there is no

[1:09:15] other reason to be here than to

[1:09:18] be contentious. We get a bill

[1:09:19] too. And I wasn't just being

[1:09:21] fun we that lady when I said,

[1:09:23] who the heck is sending out

[1:09:25] these bills. I mean, seriously.

[1:09:27] that is why the city of la draws

[1:09:30] from its own city people because

[1:09:32] we feel the pain of things as

[1:09:35] well, or if something is not

[1:09:37] right, or if a power line behind

[1:09:39] our house falls down or

[1:09:42] whatever, or there is a

[1:09:43] landslide, we're not divorced

[1:09:46] from these things, whatever

[1:09:47] influence you have I know we, as

[1:09:49] a body, would appreciate that.

[1:09:52] >>tim o'connor: thank you

[1:09:53] commissioner pinder, and we have

[1:09:54] been making those

[1:09:55] recommendations, and we support

[1:09:57] -- we support that, and also

[1:10:01] just support -- the level of

[1:10:04] support that this body has given

[1:10:05] to opa and our role to be active

[1:10:08] in this process, as well. So,

[1:10:09] we do what we can to support

[1:10:11] your decision-making going

[1:10:12] forward.

[1:10:13] >>com. Wilma pinder: thank you.

[1:10:15] >>com. Nurit katz: 12:40. Oh.

[1:10:16] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[1:10:25] okay yeah. The one that's here.

[1:10:27] >>pres. Richard katz: want to

[1:10:28] turn for a special presentation

[1:10:30] and before the ceremony

[1:10:32] downstairs.

[1:10:32] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[1:10:33] okay. So, patrick, are you

[1:10:35] doing the presentation?

[1:10:40] >>speaker: yes, ma'am it will

[1:10:41] be three of us.

[1:10:43] >>pres. Richard katz: mic them.

[1:10:48] these are your colleagues, also,

[1:10:50] that would be helpful.

[1:11:08] >>speaker: good morning

[1:11:08] honorable commissioners,

[1:11:10] distinguish management and

[1:11:11] guests we're honored to be here

[1:11:12] on behalf of valor to present

[1:11:16] our presentation to the board

[1:11:20] and audience on our one year

[1:11:24] anniversary. I'm patrick of

[1:11:30] valor joined by roman morales

[1:11:33] vice president and gonzalez,

[1:11:34] secretary of valor. Here are

[1:11:38] pictures of us and some in our

[1:11:41] former glory in uniform.

[1:11:44] [laughter]

[1:11:45] we want to thank our ceo and

[1:11:49] general -- and general manager

[1:11:53] janisse, and chief engineer,

[1:11:57] janisse quiñones, for her

[1:11:58] stalwart support to valor, to

[1:12:01] veteran dwp employees, as well

[1:12:03] as to those currently serving

[1:12:05] military service, and we note

[1:12:06] with pride that she came from

[1:12:08] among these ranks very served 20

[1:12:11] years in the coast guard also.

[1:12:14] and our agenda includes updates

[1:12:17] on the following items. Valor's

[1:12:25] mission and objectives, our

[1:12:30] first formation forming our

[1:12:31] executive board and committees,

[1:12:32] membership status events

[1:12:35] highlights and future plans.

[1:12:38] these glasses don't do distance.

[1:12:40] that was quite a feat right

[1:12:42] there. In another year I may

[1:12:45] not be able to do that.

[1:12:46] [laughter]

[1:12:47] our valor mission was created

[1:12:49] shortly after valor's inception.

[1:12:52] ladwp valor will serve, promote,

[1:12:54] and advocate for a supportive

[1:12:56] workplace environment by

[1:12:57] offering networking

[1:12:58] opportunities, mentorship

[1:13:00] volunteering and fostering

[1:13:01] culture that values and respects

[1:13:04] contributions of all employees.

[1:13:07] our objectives flow from that

[1:13:09] mission to foster camaraderie,

[1:13:12] develop mentor, and empower

[1:13:15] employees support veterans with

[1:13:19] support and advocacy with

[1:13:20] special efforts to recruit and

[1:13:21] retain veteran talent through

[1:13:24] employment in the department and

[1:13:25] the city at-large and finally to

[1:13:28] actively engage and serve the

[1:13:30] broader los angeles community

[1:13:32] and our affiliates.

[1:13:36] in november of last year, a

[1:13:38] small group of veterans met on

[1:13:40] the invitation of mr. Greg reed,

[1:13:43] who I think is in the audience,

[1:13:45] and is in that group photo in

[1:13:48] the middle. Among others, and

[1:13:50] greg joined us, and it marked

[1:13:52] the inception of valor, which

[1:13:54] would later be given a name we

[1:13:56] now know as valor that stands

[1:13:58] for veterans alliance for

[1:14:01] leadership, outreach, and

[1:14:02] recognition, hence of acronym

[1:14:05] valor. We were then honored as

[1:14:07] we are now, to present to the

[1:14:09] ladwp board, and now -- and at

[1:14:13] that time, presented with carrie

[1:14:14] mccorkle, now retired from

[1:14:17] legislative intergovernmental

[1:14:19] affairs, and eric yoshida, vice

[1:14:22] president, still serving, and

[1:14:24] myself. We have been supported

[1:14:26] throughout this valor endeavor

[1:14:27] by mr. Dave hanson, our valor

[1:14:31] executive sponsor and navy

[1:14:33] submarine veterans who

[1:14:36] fortuitously was also a

[1:14:37] recruiter in the navy and who

[1:14:38] has shared his strategies that

[1:14:41] valor has successfully leveraged

[1:14:43] in our ongoing veteran employee

[1:14:46] recruiting efforts and more to

[1:14:47] come in this briefing on that.

[1:14:52] valor executive board and

[1:14:53] committees, over the course of

[1:14:55] the last year, valor has formed

[1:14:57] a volunteer executive board and

[1:15:00] committees who have been

[1:15:03] indispensable in the roles and

[1:15:04] strategic leadership,

[1:15:05] governance, and operational

[1:15:06] oversight, ensuring valor's

[1:15:09] long-term success and stability.

[1:15:10] the executive board handles

[1:15:12] broad scope planning decisions

[1:15:17] and goal setting while our valor

[1:15:19] committees have ably provided

[1:15:23] focused expertise and efforts to

[1:15:25] help execute the valor

[1:15:26] strategies and manage day-to-day

[1:15:28] operations, spanning the

[1:15:29] gentleman us of our mission.

[1:15:34] and here you can see some of our

[1:15:36] committees are communications,

[1:15:38] operations, education, outreach,

[1:15:41] social, and membership.

[1:15:47] here are some of our valor

[1:15:49] members. And that is just a

[1:15:54] small fraction of them. We are

[1:15:55] now at about 200 members and

[1:15:58] growing. That equates to about

[1:16:01] 1.3% of the dwp employee body.

[1:16:12] and now I'll turn it over to

[1:16:14] secretary gonzalez.

[1:16:17] >>speaker: the letter o in

[1:16:20] valor stands for outreach. In

[1:16:21] less than 365 days valor has

[1:16:25] participated in over 30 events

[1:16:27] throughout the city this gives

[1:16:29] veterans opportunity to give

[1:16:30] back. I would like to share

[1:16:32] with you photographs of the

[1:16:34] wonderful event that is our

[1:16:35] veterans have engaged with

[1:16:37] throughout the year. These are

[1:16:39] the list of the events. The

[1:16:42] first photograph we have is the

[1:16:46] -- following the fires in the

[1:16:47] palisades, valor was invited by

[1:16:49] post 283 to set up flags out in

[1:16:52] central park. This symbolized

[1:16:56] patriotism, resiliency, and

[1:16:59] just, the rebuild.

[1:17:03] we were also a part of fleet

[1:17:06] week. This was at the end of

[1:17:08] may. It was an incredible

[1:17:09] opportunity for the veterans of

[1:17:11] valor to set up a booth

[1:17:14] alongside with recruitment, as

[1:17:15] well as well as the speakers

[1:17:17] bureau to get information and to

[1:17:19] engage with other organizations

[1:17:20] in the community. Over the

[1:17:22] course of fleet week, the

[1:17:23] veterans of valor and members

[1:17:25] spoke with over 100 veterans on

[1:17:29] the careers at the department,

[1:17:31] as well as their military

[1:17:34] experience and how it translates

[1:17:36] over to the civilian workforce.

[1:17:43] >>speaker: you can see in this

[1:17:44] photo valor is not just for

[1:17:46] veterans. We welcome veteran

[1:17:49] supporters like andres gar ses

[1:17:52] who is second to the right as

[1:17:54] well as family members who

[1:17:56] joined us on memorial day clean

[1:17:58] up of head stones as well as

[1:18:01] placement of flags on grave

[1:18:03] sites. The young man in the

[1:18:05] bright blue shirt is actually my

[1:18:07] son and sharing a moment with

[1:18:08] him was incredibly moving.

[1:18:12] being side by side with him

[1:18:14] honoring the fallen and passing

[1:18:15] on the meaning of sacrifice and

[1:18:19] remembrance.

[1:18:21] >>speaker: the letter r in

[1:18:23] valor stands for recognition.

[1:18:25] on june 5th, ladwp was presented

[1:18:28] with the 2025 veteran employer

[1:18:30] of the year. And this was by

[1:18:31] the california employer advisory

[1:18:33] council. Our chief engineer

[1:18:37] janisse quiñones was there

[1:18:38] present to accept the award on

[1:18:41] behalf of ladwp.

[1:18:43] >>speaker: on july 2nd, we

[1:18:45] hosted our first independence

[1:18:48] day barbecue at jfb serving

[1:18:52] around 100 employees and

[1:18:53] creating a fun afternoon of food

[1:18:55] and camaraderie.

[1:18:58] >>speaker: and on july 27th, we

[1:19:00] hosted another barbecue, valor's

[1:19:03] first labor day barbecue, at the

[1:19:05] truesdale training facility, we

[1:19:07] had approximately 200 attendees

[1:19:11] and valor had the chance to

[1:19:12] honor the dwp workers who helped

[1:19:13] in the emergency repairs during

[1:19:16] the porter ranch, granada hills

[1:19:19] water emergency.

[1:19:23] >>speaker: and to commemorate

[1:19:26] september 11th, and the attacks

[1:19:29] of that hobble day, we held a

[1:19:32] ceremony here at john for

[1:19:39] ferraro building and we had

[1:19:41] mr. Dave hanson as a speak,

[1:19:44] mr. Lucero from security

[1:19:48] services, albert rodriguez from

[1:19:51] corporate communications as a

[1:19:53] speaker since many of our cohort

[1:19:56] in our era joined because of

[1:19:58] this event you know many of us

[1:20:01] global war on terror veterans

[1:20:02] who have served over the last 25

[1:20:05] years joined us because of this

[1:20:08] seminole day. Ramalo behind me

[1:20:12] was in high school looked out

[1:20:14] for new jersey where he lived

[1:20:17] and saw the burning buildings my

[1:20:20] cousin I know was killed in the

[1:20:22] trade center and high school

[1:20:23] friend of mine was a green beret

[1:20:26] and he perished within two weeks

[1:20:29] in afghanistan so it's personal

[1:20:32] and motivated a lot of us I was

[1:20:38] honored and pleased that we at

[1:20:39] dwp could remember this day and

[1:20:41] have this event.

[1:20:43] >>speaker: in addition to all

[1:20:44] events we did lots of outreach

[1:20:46] events partners with different

[1:20:48] organizations in this paragraph

[1:20:50] you have a couple of different

[1:20:52] events going on we did a ruck

[1:20:53] with some weight that's

[1:20:55] basically a weight with a pack

[1:20:57] from downtown to the palisades

[1:20:59] with shepherdsmen on 911 that

[1:21:05] was the morning of a group of

[1:21:07] veterans from valor were with

[1:21:09] the shepherds men they're

[1:21:14] non-profit basically raise money

[1:21:17] to raise awareness for veterans

[1:21:19] that suffer from post traumatic

[1:21:21] stress disorder and traumatic

[1:21:25] brain injury we also got

[1:21:27] tremendous support from local 18

[1:21:29] we have a photograph

[1:21:31] mr. Murruffo supporting the

[1:21:34] event they provide period

[1:21:36] hydration station for the event

[1:21:40] and were very generous to do so

[1:21:42] we have more photographs

[1:21:46] pictures are worth 1,000 words

[1:21:47] right. We have photographs at

[1:21:49] different events we did a

[1:21:51] baseball game we also did

[1:21:53] numerous events in this lineman

[1:21:55] rodeo down in the corner as well

[1:21:57] as neo events a special event

[1:21:59] that we had opportunity to take

[1:22:01] part in was at ucla we went out

[1:22:07] there also to clean tomb stones

[1:22:10] recently and also provide

[1:22:12] support to veterans providing

[1:22:14] résumé workshop and just helping

[1:22:17] them professionally build them

[1:22:18] up. On this slide shows valor

[1:22:21] has served as liaison with local

[1:22:24] government officials on the top

[1:22:26] left we have an event it was

[1:22:28] california state senator

[1:22:30] caroline mengevar she is also a

[1:22:34] united states marine corp

[1:22:37] veteran that was last year at

[1:22:38] their san fernando valley

[1:22:43] veterans day event valor was

[1:22:45] there we were involved. At the

[1:22:47] bottom of the photograph we have

[1:22:51] valor until attendance at the

[1:22:52] west it was west la, va hospital

[1:22:57] for an event with new directions

[1:22:59] that council member down there

[1:23:03] with myself patrick and kerry to

[1:23:08] the right of that we have a

[1:23:10] photograph with council member

[1:23:11] padilla from council district

[1:23:13] six they were very generous. We

[1:23:16] connected with them in the

[1:23:17] photograph, next to that the

[1:23:20] bottom one on the rights

[1:23:22] presented valor with an award

[1:23:24] for just the support and

[1:23:26] actually brought that award

[1:23:27] today just to show you, we were

[1:23:31] presented with our first award

[1:23:33] for outreach from council

[1:23:34] district six.

[1:23:35] [applause]

[1:23:36] thank you very much. Again we

[1:23:38] continued with more events just

[1:23:40] photographs capturing moments of

[1:23:42] our veterans events and outreach

[1:23:44] in the community.

[1:23:51] >>pres. Richard katz: great.

[1:23:54] >>speaker: and on this slide

[1:23:55] I'll be going over the challenge

[1:23:58] coin. A challenge coin

[1:24:00] represents recognition, respect,

[1:24:02] and a sense of belonging it

[1:24:05] honors a person's meaningful

[1:24:07] contribution. Valor's challenge

[1:24:09] coin was designed by daniel

[1:24:11] bautista electrical engineering

[1:24:14] social three and navy veterans

[1:24:16] who served five years as a fire

[1:24:18] control man on submarines and

[1:24:21] he's actually to the right over

[1:24:23] here up front.

[1:24:23] [applause]

[1:24:28] [laughter]

[1:24:29] and then he previously designed

[1:24:32] challenge coins in the navy and

[1:24:33] now has applied that experience

[1:24:35] to valor. Here is the based of

[1:24:37] design, what each element

[1:24:41] symbolizes. In front of the

[1:24:42] coin, it shows the sunset or

[1:24:45] sunrise, represents the closing

[1:24:47] of a military career, or the

[1:24:49] beginning of a new chapter in

[1:24:51] civil service. The electricity

[1:24:54] symbolizes the power that we

[1:24:56] deliver to our customers. Valor

[1:24:58] in the middle of the coin

[1:25:00] symbolizes the -- and serving as

[1:25:02] a bridge across all systems,

[1:25:04] water, power, and joint. Water

[1:25:07] represents the essential water

[1:25:10] service provided to our

[1:25:11] communities, and then the single

[1:25:14] star located on the bottom

[1:25:17] symbolizing hope, hope and

[1:25:20] opportunities for continuing

[1:25:21] serving their community whether

[1:25:23] after active duty or while in

[1:25:28] the reserve service on the back

[1:25:29] of the coin honors all military

[1:25:32] of the united states. At this

[1:25:34] time we would like to present

[1:25:35] challenge coins.

[1:25:36] >>speaker: and I would hasten

[1:25:38] to point out, the coin is like

[1:25:41] valor and dwp at-large. It's a

[1:25:43] fusion of effort. So, that

[1:25:44] center blue bridge that ramalo

[1:25:48] referred to was actually

[1:25:49] designed by eric botero,

[1:25:52] virginia candia and the team for

[1:25:59] mr. Row mallow in corporate

[1:26:02] communications and so we thank

[1:26:05] them for helping in the design

[1:26:07] that valor logo complements the

[1:26:10] design that mr. Bautista made in

[1:26:14] this challenge coin. Just a

[1:26:17] manifestation of that fusion

[1:26:18] effort.

[1:26:19] >>speaker: so, at this time I

[1:26:20] will present the challenge coins

[1:26:22] to our valor members and turn it

[1:26:25] over to read citations while

[1:26:29] patrick begins presenting the

[1:26:32] coins.

[1:26:33] >>speaker: the challenge coins

[1:26:34] are presented as recognition and

[1:26:38] award as token of appreciation

[1:26:41] members that have been doing

[1:26:43] outstanding service for valor in

[1:26:45] our community just overall

[1:26:47] representing valor in a very

[1:26:48] nice way.

[1:26:51] >>speaker: valor is pleased to

[1:26:52] present ralph sanchez for his

[1:26:55] valor challenge coin for his

[1:26:58] contributions as a cook during

[1:26:59] the 4th of july barbecue and

[1:27:01] labor day barbecue feeding more

[1:27:04] than 400 ladwp employees, also

[1:27:07] helped fill out critical

[1:27:08] paperwork to expedite

[1:27:10] procurement of the valor

[1:27:11] challenge coins and lower the

[1:27:13] american flag during the morning

[1:27:15] of september 11th in honor of

[1:27:17] that day.

[1:27:18] valor is pleased to present leo

[1:27:20] with valor challenge coin for

[1:27:25] contributions as a cook during

[1:27:26] the 4th of july barbecue and

[1:27:28] labor day barbecue feeding more

[1:27:31] than 400 ladwp employees, been

[1:27:34] part of a community outreach

[1:27:35] where he volunteered time

[1:27:39] planting over 250 flags at last

[1:27:42] year's memorial day ceremony at

[1:27:46] forest lawn.

[1:27:48] valor is pleased to present

[1:27:51] andreas garces with the valor

[1:27:54] challenge coin for contributions

[1:27:56] as valors education and

[1:27:58] recruitment chair, where he

[1:27:59] organized recruitment of

[1:28:01] professional development with

[1:28:03] local universities which

[1:28:09] included a resume workshop at

[1:28:10] ucla veteran center and resource

[1:28:11] fair for veterans at cal state

[1:28:11] dominguez hills. Andreas has

[1:28:12] volunteered his time and

[1:28:13] planning with barbecues and

[1:28:13] contributed to the success of

[1:28:14] the group by creating flyers for

[1:28:15] all of the events.

[1:28:16] valor is pleased to present min

[1:28:20] wen for contributions as valor

[1:28:24] social chair organized and

[1:28:26] delegated tasks to ensure

[1:28:28] mission accomplishments. Min

[1:28:31] has been instrumental in

[1:28:31] planning of valor events and

[1:28:34] responsibilities for beyond his

[1:28:35] role, which include creating

[1:28:37] valor's linkedin page and

[1:28:40] monitoring valor's e-mail. Also

[1:28:41] created design and shirts and

[1:28:43] helped with procurement and

[1:28:44] delivery of shirts.

[1:28:49] valor is pleased to present

[1:28:51] daniel bautista with the valor

[1:28:54] challenge coin for contributions

[1:28:55] at valor's outreach chair where

[1:28:58] we organized and delegated tasks

[1:29:00] to ensure mission accomplishment

[1:29:02] also played an instrumental role

[1:29:04] in creating the presentation for

[1:29:06] valor's one year event and

[1:29:08] helped create and design the

[1:29:10] procurement of the valid

[1:29:11] challenge coin. And last but

[1:29:13] not least, pleased to present

[1:29:15] pablo sento with challenge coin

[1:29:21] for contributions as operations

[1:29:23] chair where he executed tasks to

[1:29:26] ensure mission accomplishments

[1:29:28] and pablo volunteered his time

[1:29:30] during fleet week both barbecues

[1:29:33] as well as set up of and

[1:29:35] planning of today's veterans day

[1:29:38] event.

[1:29:40] >>speaker: thank you, all.

[1:29:41] [applause]

[1:29:51] >>speaker: and we now know how

[1:29:54] important the challenge coins

[1:29:55] are, what they represent.

[1:29:57] they're an honor, and we would

[1:29:58] like to convey that honor to our

[1:30:00] esteemed commissioners. George

[1:30:03] is a marine veteran, and served

[1:30:06] as an elite embassies guard

[1:30:10] during his time in service,

[1:30:11] supporting foreign embassies of

[1:30:13] america. And with that, we

[1:30:15] would like to have him, as

[1:30:18] security, enter the well and

[1:30:19] provide the commissioners a

[1:30:21] challenge coin. Memorializing

[1:30:24] their support, ongoing, and

[1:30:26] past, and reflecting our thanks

[1:30:28] for them.

[1:30:37] >>com. Wilma pinder: may I say

[1:30:38] this as he comes forward? When

[1:30:42] I served as an attorney with the

[1:30:44] city's attorney's office, this

[1:30:48] gentleman and I, we have known

[1:30:50] each other for many years, and I

[1:30:52] felt very secure when I came

[1:30:54] here last march 2024 to serve as

[1:30:56] a commissioner. It's just a

[1:30:58] great honor to shake your hand.

[1:31:01] and thank you very much so much

[1:31:02] for that. I have to hug you.

[1:31:03] [applause]

[1:31:04] [applause]

[1:31:43] >>speaker: we'll move on to the

[1:31:45] next slide. I would like to

[1:31:47] highlight bin win for leading

[1:31:53] the design of the valor pole low

[1:31:56] shirts in collaboration with

[1:31:59] albert rodriguez corporate

[1:32:01] communications who helped design

[1:32:02] the valor logo as patrick

[1:32:05] mentioned earlier to create

[1:32:06] professional unified look for

[1:32:08] our group when we attend events.

[1:32:11] bin is navy who served four

[1:32:19] years as sonar technician and

[1:32:21] now contributes to department

[1:32:23] systems analyst. I want to

[1:32:26] thank jennifer shar from

[1:32:28] recruitment for her support and

[1:32:29] helping us procure the challenge

[1:32:31] coins and apollo shirts.

[1:32:35] >>speaker: that brings us to

[1:32:36] the end of our 2025 valor

[1:32:38] briefing to this ladwp board of

[1:32:41] commissioners. Thank you for

[1:32:41] the opportunity. I want to

[1:32:42] point out that membership is

[1:32:44] over 200 people so far and

[1:32:46] growing. It continues to grow,

[1:32:48] not least of which, from valor,

[1:32:50] and an expanded effort in

[1:32:52] recruiting. And, also, a

[1:32:57] belated happy birthday to the

[1:32:58] united states navy, at 250 years

[1:33:01] in the united states marine

[1:33:03] corp, at 250 years, big numbers

[1:33:08] but in this room alone I did a

[1:33:10] quick calculation and total

[1:33:12] amount of years in service some

[1:33:14] of us have over 20 years not

[1:33:16] looking at janisse, but looking

[1:33:20] at janisse and myself the gray

[1:33:22] is real but in this room alone

[1:33:24] we have over 100 years of

[1:33:27] veteran military service just in

[1:33:29] this room. So, thank you. And

[1:33:30] we want to invite everyone first

[1:33:32] of all to everyone, we want to

[1:33:36] invite anyone and everyone it's

[1:33:38] free to be a part of valor you

[1:33:39] can send an e-mail to the e-mail

[1:33:42] address or use the cr code and

[1:33:45] express your interest and we'll

[1:33:47] add you to the member roles we

[1:33:49] love to have you, civilian or

[1:33:52] veteran both are welcome.

[1:33:54] equally welcome. Today we're

[1:33:57] going to have a celebration of

[1:33:59] veterans day in the lobby level

[1:34:02] here of john ferraro building a

[1:34:05] bit later today starting off

[1:34:07] around 12 noon, 12:30. So all

[1:34:12] are welcome.

[1:34:13] >>speaker: thank you.

[1:34:15] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you

[1:34:15] very much for that presentation

[1:34:16] but more important he for your

[1:34:17] service previously in the

[1:34:19] branches but also today as

[1:34:20] employees here at dwp especially

[1:34:22] those honored for all the time

[1:34:24] you put in and leadership we're

[1:34:27] really grateful having signed up

[1:34:28] a while back even though I have

[1:34:30] not served myself I have enjoyed

[1:34:32] being part of the e-mails from

[1:34:34] valor and seeing everything that

[1:34:35] you're doing and I will work to

[1:34:37] earn this challenge coin and

[1:34:38] continue to support and be ally.

[1:34:41] so, thank you very much.

[1:34:42] >>speaker: thank you.

[1:34:50] >>com. Nurit katz: and I

[1:34:51] believe we'll have opportunity

[1:34:51] to take break so people can go

[1:34:54] to the event later. But first

[1:34:55] if I may ask president's katz

[1:34:59] permission that we take item 33.

[1:35:01] there are some folks that have

[1:35:03] been waiting to speak. Would

[1:35:05] that be all right.

[1:35:07] >>pres. Richard katz: yes. Get

[1:35:08] it over with.

[1:35:10] >>com. Nurit katz: I know it's

[1:35:13] reluctant on your part but

[1:35:15] important to let us honor you.

[1:35:16] during this portion for item 33

[1:35:18] I'll be reading the resolution

[1:35:20] then we have different remarks

[1:35:22] from commissioners from

[1:35:22] leadership of the commission and

[1:35:25] department and from a few

[1:35:26] guests. Before I read the

[1:35:28] resolution I want to take a

[1:35:32] moment to say growing up here in

[1:35:35] los angeles whenever I met

[1:35:37] people they learned my last name

[1:35:39] usually first thing out of their

[1:35:41] mouth was are you related to

[1:35:43] richard katz and I will say for

[1:35:46] the record again no in rant not

[1:35:53] in recent history that we're

[1:35:54] aware of it's an honor to

[1:35:57] finally have this opportunity to

[1:35:58] get to know you and work with

[1:35:59] you having heard so much so many

[1:36:02] good things over decades here in

[1:36:03] los angeles we're really going

[1:36:04] to miss and you wish that you

[1:36:07] were able to continue but we

[1:36:09] wish you well in everything that

[1:36:11] you do. I'll read the formal

[1:36:13] resolution. Honoring the

[1:36:15] service of richard katz whereas

[1:36:17] mr. Richard katz was appointed

[1:36:20] to the board of water and power

[1:36:21] commissioners board by mayor

[1:36:23] karen bass and confirmed by the

[1:36:25] los angeles city council on

[1:36:26] march 2024 and elected board

[1:36:29] president on march 26th 2024 and

[1:36:32] whereas mr. Katz is a long time

[1:36:34] public servant and state policy

[1:36:36] maker with specific expertise in

[1:36:38] the areas of water,

[1:36:38] transportation, and land use

[1:36:40] whereas as board president

[1:36:41] mr. Katz served in numerous

[1:36:43] capacities during tenure

[1:36:45] including the executive standing

[1:36:47] committee, audit standing

[1:36:48] committee, ad-hoc advisory

[1:36:50] committee on power procurement

[1:36:52] options, ad-hoc advisory

[1:36:55] committee on scppa and finance

[1:36:58] standing committee and whereas

[1:36:59] mr. Katz has been instrumental

[1:37:00] in advancing los angeles mayor

[1:37:03] karen bass' visionary

[1:37:06] initiatives to achieve the

[1:37:07] city's ambitious climate goals

[1:37:10] and address critical

[1:37:11] infrastructure challenges

[1:37:15] thereby ensuring reliability and

[1:37:18] resilience for all residents.

[1:37:20] and whereas led the board with

[1:37:25] unwavering dedication fostering

[1:37:27] a culture of enhanced

[1:37:29] accountability transparency and

[1:37:30] public trust in utility, setting

[1:37:31] a benchmark of excellence.

[1:37:32] whereas mr. Katz exemplary

[1:37:35] leadership the board has

[1:37:37] prioritized essential areas such

[1:37:38] as housing stormwater capture

[1:37:40] and integration of new

[1:37:41] technologies, along with

[1:37:43] implementing programs and

[1:37:43] policies that equitably benefit

[1:37:45] all city residents. And whereas

[1:37:47] mr. Katz is passionate advocate

[1:37:52] enthusiastic supporter of ladwp

[1:37:55] workforce proudly refers to as

[1:37:57] first responders, consistently

[1:38:00] highlighting unparalleled

[1:38:03] professionalism and dedication

[1:38:04] to the city of los angeles and

[1:38:07] significantly strengthened ladwp

[1:38:08] collaboration with other city

[1:38:10] departments celebrating joint

[1:38:11] efforts as groundwater

[1:38:14] replenishment project at donald

[1:38:15] c tillman water reclamation

[1:38:18] plant a testament to ongoing

[1:38:20] partnership between ladwp and la

[1:38:23] san championed ladwp pursuit of

[1:38:31] 100% of clean energy therefore

[1:38:33] be it resolved on behalf of the

[1:38:36] management of this department

[1:38:38] its employees and residents of

[1:38:39] the city of los angeles thank

[1:38:41] mr. Katz for his dedicated

[1:38:44] service and wish him good health

[1:38:45] and continued success in all

[1:38:48] endeavors. His presence and

[1:38:49] leadership will be missed on

[1:38:51] this commission. Be it further

[1:38:54] resolved that the secretary be

[1:38:55] instructed to place this

[1:38:57] resolution in the minutes of

[1:38:57] this board as permanent record

[1:38:59] and that an engrossed copy of

[1:39:02] this resolution will be

[1:39:03] presented to mr. Katz in

[1:39:05] recognition of his committed

[1:39:07] dedication to the public service

[1:39:08] of the city I hereby certify

[1:39:11] that the foregoing is a full

[1:39:17] certified copy of a adopted by

[1:39:24] the board of water and power

[1:39:25] commissioners of the city of los

[1:39:27] angeles held november 18th, 2025

[1:39:29] thank you. Before we present

[1:39:31] the resolution I would like to

[1:39:33] call on board secretary chante

[1:39:36] mitchell first.

[1:39:36] >>board secretary, chante

[1:39:37] mitchell: thank you for giving

[1:39:38] me the opportunity to speak. I

[1:39:39] know it's not out of the norm of

[1:39:41] business but richard, I don't

[1:39:43] really understand -- but richard

[1:39:45] the day I met you I met you

[1:39:48] getting your opening counsel and

[1:39:51] I had on tennis shoes and I knew

[1:39:53] I was going to like you one

[1:39:55] thing that I know but is

[1:39:56] whenever I speak to you I'm

[1:39:58] going to laugh or learn

[1:40:00] something and it's usually both.

[1:40:02] everybody knows about your

[1:40:04] political career how much how

[1:40:06] many things you have touched

[1:40:07] that you have impacted things

[1:40:08] that I didn't know about the

[1:40:10] city of los angeles that you

[1:40:12] helped forge that I and my

[1:40:14] children get to take advantage

[1:40:16] of being angelenos but more

[1:40:19] importantly the person that you

[1:40:20] are, I hope that I could be the

[1:40:22] type of leader that you are

[1:40:24] which makes people feel seen and

[1:40:26] heard and acknowledged and you

[1:40:29] have always asked myself and

[1:40:30] david for our opinion and you

[1:40:31] have always listened and I hope

[1:40:33] one day I can be that kind of

[1:40:35] person. So, thank you for the

[1:40:37] way that you treat all of the

[1:40:38] people that support you here

[1:40:39] with love, kindness, we really,

[1:40:43] all we want to do is bolster you

[1:40:47] up because you know how good of

[1:40:51] a person you are, and I just

[1:40:52] want to say thank you from the

[1:40:53] bottom of my heart for making

[1:40:55] every day that I have been able

[1:40:58] to work with you a wonderful

[1:41:00] day. Thank you.

[1:41:00] [applause]

[1:41:01] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you so

[1:41:03] much chante, I was holding it

[1:41:04] together. And now I'm crying.

[1:41:06] >>com. Wilma pinder: I know,

[1:41:07] are we going to be able to.

[1:41:09] >>com. Nurit katz: with that

[1:41:10] I'll call on commissioner wilma

[1:41:12] pinder.

[1:41:13] >>com. Wilma pinder: thank god

[1:41:14] she stood up and spoke. Because

[1:41:16] she really expressed the general

[1:41:18] feeling that we all have had we

[1:41:21] breathe in the air and we're

[1:41:23] trying to live up to richard's

[1:41:26] standard and chante is his right

[1:41:28] arm in that regard. I so

[1:41:30] appreciated your remarks.

[1:41:32] because I do think they speak,

[1:41:33] really, for all of us, that you

[1:41:35] just can't improve on that.

[1:41:36] there is no division as to who

[1:41:38] this person is or that person.

[1:41:40] the only thing that is, is the

[1:41:43] person, meaning the greater city

[1:41:45] that we're trying to work for.

[1:41:47] I know I didn't count until

[1:41:49] somebody called up and said, if

[1:41:52] I can -- I have worked with

[1:41:56] wilma pinder, she is a good

[1:42:02] person, I hope she meets your

[1:42:04] expectations. Seriously that's

[1:42:06] the way we have all felt we're

[1:42:08] trying to follow. The great

[1:42:12] path that you have set long

[1:42:15] before you came here has been a

[1:42:17] great honor thank you richard.

[1:42:20] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you

[1:42:20] wilma. Next we have janisse

[1:42:27] quiñones ceo.

[1:42:27] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[1:42:28] thanks richard. You started

[1:42:30] like a week before I started

[1:42:31] this job like ten years ago

[1:42:34] probably

[1:42:35] [laughter]

[1:42:35] I have to -- I'm very thankful

[1:42:38] for the friendship and the

[1:42:39] relationship, your wisdom, your

[1:42:41] values and your characters, your

[1:42:46] dry humor that sometimes piss me

[1:42:48] off and makes he laugh but every

[1:42:50] time we got a place where I just

[1:42:52] admire the heart that you have

[1:42:54] for angelenos, for the people in

[1:42:57] the department and just to do

[1:42:58] the right thing. Right? And

[1:43:01] there is a lot of that that has

[1:43:03] to happen across this great

[1:43:05] city. This job is not easy. I

[1:43:08] think wilma said, no matter if

[1:43:09] that I pay you or doesn't pay

[1:43:11] you. Thank you for taking the

[1:43:15] call and volunteering and doing

[1:43:16] a phenomenal job and one of the

[1:43:19] hardest times that the

[1:43:21] department has faced in a

[1:43:22] language time. It hasn't been

[1:43:24] an easy year, but it's been

[1:43:26] easier because you have been

[1:43:27] there as my partner and sidekick

[1:43:30] and a lot of challenging areas,

[1:43:33] and your advisement and just

[1:43:35] experiences invaluable. Thank

[1:43:41] you. Have a lot of fun. I know

[1:43:44] you and I are missing our boys,

[1:43:46] and life is so much more, right,

[1:43:50] when he comes home give him a

[1:43:53] big kiss and make him as big as

[1:43:55] you are. Thank you.

[1:43:58] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[1:43:58] janisse.

[1:44:00] >>com. Nurit katz: next I'll

[1:44:01] turn to water system.

[1:44:08] >>anselmo collins: I have got

[1:44:08] to learn how to turn this thing

[1:44:10] on. It's a power thing. Right?

[1:44:14] button. You never miss an

[1:44:16] opportunity.

[1:44:18] [laughter]

[1:44:19] president katz on behalf of the

[1:44:20] water system I want to thank you

[1:44:21] for all the support that you

[1:44:23] provided to us. I will say that

[1:44:24] to me it was especially

[1:44:26] noticeable during the palisades

[1:44:29] incident. And after. I heard

[1:44:33] you speak at many events after,

[1:44:35] and you have always made a point

[1:44:37] to remind people of the high

[1:44:40] school work that the water

[1:44:42] system folks did to

[1:44:44] re-established the system.

[1:44:45] regardless of where you were

[1:44:46] speaking you would always make

[1:44:48] that point. To me that mental

[1:44:50] health a lot. I'm grateful for

[1:44:51] you doing that. Because me

[1:44:52] saying it is very different than

[1:44:53] the board president saying it.

[1:44:55] the and I think people recognize

[1:44:56] the great work that the men and

[1:44:59] women in the water system did in

[1:45:01] restoring the system. So, on

[1:45:03] behalf the water system, I

[1:45:05] wanted to provide you or give

[1:45:07] you this gift, present you this

[1:45:10] gift. This is a water meter,

[1:45:11] and I'm going to stand up so

[1:45:14] everybody can see it hopefully

[1:45:15] won't throw my back. There you

[1:45:17] go. Thank you, sir.

[1:45:19] so one of our traditions we have

[1:45:21] in the water system is to

[1:45:23] provide a water meter to certain

[1:45:25] people. Not everybody gets it

[1:45:26] this particular meter that you

[1:45:27] have here actually was in

[1:45:29] service. So this is not just a

[1:45:31] pretty meter, this actually

[1:45:33] served the city of los angeles.

[1:45:35] because of that, we actually

[1:45:36] have a certificate of

[1:45:39] authenticity to give you.

[1:45:40] [laughter]

[1:45:43] just roll with it, right? I'm

[1:45:44] going to read what it says here.

[1:45:45] >>pres. Richard katz:

[1:45:47] [laughter]

[1:45:49] >>anselmo collins: meter

[1:45:52] 4207110 has successfully

[1:45:54] completed its career of service

[1:45:56] in the department of water and

[1:45:57] power water distribution system

[1:45:59] serving as bypass aid to a four

[1:46:02] inch hersy detector check valve

[1:46:06] number 42007110 proudly served

[1:46:11] at 303807 broadway place from

[1:46:18] october 10th, 1963 until

[1:46:19] retirement march 15, 2019. So

[1:46:22] that means this meter was in

[1:46:24] service for 56 years you have

[1:46:26] been on the board for less than

[1:46:29] two so I think you owe me 54

[1:46:31] years. So we're going to make

[1:46:33] sure you come back and serve the

[1:46:39] rest time. Once again on behalf

[1:46:41] of the water system, thank you

[1:46:43] for your leadership thank you

[1:46:44] for the support and for all the

[1:46:46] kind words you said about my

[1:46:48] staff.

[1:46:48] [applause]

[1:46:56] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you

[1:46:56] very much. And we'll move now

[1:46:58] to the power system.

[1:47:01] >>speaker: thank you very much.

[1:47:02] I'm realizing now, coming in the

[1:47:03] wake of anselmo, as I always do,

[1:47:06] we forgot to take the price tag

[1:47:08] off of the --

[1:47:10] [laughter]

[1:47:10] but, really, president katz it's

[1:47:12] been an honor to sit up here

[1:47:15] with you for the last year.

[1:47:16] it's very important that we have

[1:47:17] a supportive board for us to be

[1:47:19] able to accomplish the things

[1:47:20] that our hardworking men and

[1:47:23] women out in the field are

[1:47:25] working towards just for

[1:47:27] procurement, from contracts,

[1:47:28] from major projects. None of

[1:47:30] that happens without the support

[1:47:31] of the board, and that's been

[1:47:33] something that you have

[1:47:34] spearheaded. I have felt

[1:47:36] supported the entire time.

[1:47:37] thank you very much for

[1:47:38] everything that you have done.

[1:47:39] like anselmo said, the way that

[1:47:41] you speak about the hardworking

[1:47:42] men and women out there in the

[1:47:44] field, it's easy to forget, you

[1:47:45] know, what the department

[1:47:47] actually is, and it's the field

[1:47:49] folks. You're either a field

[1:47:51] person or you support a field

[1:47:53] person. That's the way we look

[1:47:54] at it, and that's the way it

[1:47:56] seems to come off when you speak

[1:47:59] about them as well. I know they

[1:48:01] appreciate it. We're going to

[1:48:02] miss you around here. So what

[1:48:04] we like to do in the power

[1:48:05] system is give you a meter that

[1:48:07] we're slowly changing out one at

[1:48:09] a time for automated metering,

[1:48:11] right?

[1:48:15] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: I

[1:48:16] ask him if it's a smart meter.

[1:48:17] [laughter].

[1:48:22] >>dave hanson: nothing is ever

[1:48:22] good enough for richard.

[1:48:23] actually wired to turn when you

[1:48:25] plug in the lamp and if your

[1:48:27] wife lets you keep this in the

[1:48:30] house, you will be the first.

[1:48:32] everyone else has to put it in

[1:48:34] the garage. Good luck to you

[1:48:36] sir. Thank you very much for

[1:48:38] the support you have given us in

[1:48:40] the power system. It's been our

[1:48:41] pleasure.

[1:48:42] [applause]

[1:48:49] that's why we need you.

[1:48:53] >>com. Wilma pinder: I'm

[1:48:54] telling you.

[1:48:55] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[1:48:55] very much.

[1:48:57] >>dave hanson: yes, sir. Thank

[1:48:57] you.

[1:49:00] thank you very much.

[1:49:02] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you

[1:49:03] very much.

[1:49:04] >>com. Wilma pinder: it's

[1:49:05] perfect.

[1:49:06] >>com. Nurit katz: uh-huh.

[1:49:07] neat looking.

[1:49:09] all right. Thank you. And

[1:49:10] thank you, wilma, for taking

[1:49:11] care of that.

[1:49:13] [laughter]

[1:49:13] all right. Now we'll move to

[1:49:15] communications.

[1:49:16] >>speaker: thank you. Richard,

[1:49:17] I have known and respected your

[1:49:19] work and valued your friendship

[1:49:21] for over 20 years now, longer

[1:49:23] than both of our boys before

[1:49:25] they were born. And I'm

[1:49:27] grateful that we formally got to

[1:49:30] work together because I have

[1:49:32] admired you from a distance and

[1:49:34] appreciated and saw the work

[1:49:35] that you put in, the

[1:49:37] thoughtfulness, the humility and

[1:49:39] principles that you have adhered

[1:49:40] to in all your positions through

[1:49:43] the years whether at legislation

[1:49:45] or metrorail other portions that

[1:49:48] you served on with dedication on

[1:49:52] behalf of the city, this area,

[1:49:53] it's various mayors and it's a

[1:49:56] testament really to your

[1:49:57] leadership and really whatever

[1:49:59] commented earlier today, your

[1:50:01] ability to understand the

[1:50:01] difference between politics and

[1:50:03] governing. And that's what's

[1:50:04] very hard to do. And we

[1:50:06] appreciate all the

[1:50:07] thoughtfulness you brought here

[1:50:08] to the department. I only wish

[1:50:10] it could have been longer. Just

[1:50:12] your professionalism, your

[1:50:14] kindness, your willingness to

[1:50:15] listen, and to lead. And we

[1:50:19] appreciate it on behalf of the

[1:50:20] joint system. I want to thank

[1:50:22] you. All of the divisions that

[1:50:23] make up joint, really, as you

[1:50:24] know, we exist to serve water

[1:50:26] and power, but most importantly

[1:50:28] to serve our customers and you

[1:50:29] understood that, appreciated it,

[1:50:31] and have put those votes, and

[1:50:34] the money, that your money where

[1:50:38] your mouth is there in

[1:50:40] supporting all the work we have

[1:50:41] brought forward that we're

[1:50:42] trying to do to improve customer

[1:50:44] experience thank you on behalf

[1:50:45] of everyone in joint and behalf

[1:50:47] of our customers. Thank you

[1:50:49] thank you. Remarks from ann?

[1:50:50] [applause]

[1:51:13] >>com. Nurit katz: all right.

[1:51:14] and remarks from ann santilli.

[1:51:17] >>ann m. Santilli: thank you.

[1:51:18] president katz, I can't thank

[1:51:20] you enough for all of your

[1:51:21] leadership, working with us on

[1:51:22] helping us get all of our bond

[1:51:25] sales done, our first joint

[1:51:27] powers authority for rate

[1:51:29] reduction bonds. So many

[1:51:31] things. And I think chante said

[1:51:33] it best, because you learn a lot

[1:51:36] when we talk to you, as well as

[1:51:38] laugh and all of us come out

[1:51:40] with a win-win situation. So,

[1:51:42] best of luck in your retirement.

[1:51:44] and thank you, again for all

[1:51:48] your leadership.

[1:51:49] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[1:51:50] ann for explaining things in

[1:51:52] terms I can even understand.

[1:51:54] I'm grateful for that as part of

[1:51:57] it. So, thank you.

[1:51:59] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you.

[1:51:59] all right. We have remarks from

[1:52:01] labor partners. If there is

[1:52:03] anybody here who would like to

[1:52:04] speak?

[1:52:08] all right. We'll come back if

[1:52:10] needed. Remarks from hilary

[1:52:13] norton. Oh there she is.

[1:52:16] behind the podium.

[1:52:24] >>speaker: well, I am supposed

[1:52:26] to say, because it's true, that

[1:52:27] I am here on behalf of many,

[1:52:29] many, many other people who

[1:52:31] wanted to be here to make

[1:52:33] remarks today. So, consider me

[1:52:35] being here for lots and lots of

[1:52:36] people who wanted to honor you

[1:52:38] today, president katz.

[1:52:41] thank you so much for leading

[1:52:42] this commission for the past 20

[1:52:44] months. You, your colleagues,

[1:52:46] and ceo quiñones issued in a new

[1:52:53] era of ethics and it customers

[1:52:59] in the city of los angeles and

[1:53:00] for you we're deeply grateful of

[1:53:04] you and mayor bass. You respect

[1:53:11] people you serve with and

[1:53:14] everything you do every time you

[1:53:16] speak to the public your

[1:53:18] commitment to mono lake and

[1:53:19] environmental stewardship and 45

[1:53:21] years of public service have led

[1:53:23] to your unparalleled leadership

[1:53:26] of the dwp commission thank you

[1:53:28] for all that you have done for

[1:53:30] the state of california and the

[1:53:31] city of los angeles and your

[1:53:33] friends like me just want to

[1:53:35] thank you once again for putting

[1:53:36] your pay, putting your time,

[1:53:38] putting your personal life

[1:53:42] behind public service and the

[1:53:44] people of this state and the

[1:53:46] city. Because it is your

[1:53:47] dedication to all of us that has

[1:53:49] made our lives better even

[1:53:57] though your life has taken a

[1:53:59] little bit of a hit so we're so

[1:54:03] glad that you are going to

[1:54:05] dedicate some time to you now.

[1:54:07] thank you for your service.

[1:54:08] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[1:54:09] hilary.

[1:54:11] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you

[1:54:11] next we have remarks from tony

[1:54:13] wilkinson. Welcome back.

[1:54:24] >>speaker: tony wilkinson,

[1:54:27] making travel for the city

[1:54:28] neighborhood council, dwp,

[1:54:31] memorandum of understanding

[1:54:32] committee. I'm actually here to

[1:54:33] just -- to express my thanks

[1:54:37] for, it's been 45 years. You

[1:54:39] may not remember, but we met

[1:54:41] each other in 1980. I happen to

[1:54:45] be the marketing services

[1:54:46] manager for save co title

[1:54:54] insurance it was just after the

[1:54:56] real estate crash in 1979 I was

[1:54:59] going around putting billboards

[1:55:02] all over the city to help our

[1:55:04] real estate broker friends

[1:55:08] saying with the pink panther buy

[1:55:11] real estate today you will be in

[1:55:13] the pink tomorrow and my

[1:55:15] marketing director had moved me

[1:55:17] and the team to a little

[1:55:19] building in north hills because

[1:55:21] he was having a fight with the

[1:55:22] president and downstairs low and

[1:55:25] behold our new assemblyman had

[1:55:28] his first office in that little

[1:55:30] tiny building, parthenia street

[1:55:33] and that's where we actually met

[1:55:36] I department know it's been 45

[1:55:37] years you certainly have darker

[1:55:40] hair than I do. I want to

[1:55:43] because everything what everyone

[1:55:44] has said it thank you for

[1:55:48] representing a life of true

[1:55:50] civic service whether it's an

[1:55:52] elected official 16 years in the

[1:55:54] assembly everything you have

[1:55:55] done since it's something we

[1:55:56] need to bring back in the city

[1:55:58] and certainly too I really

[1:56:01] appreciate the board secretary's

[1:56:03] remarks because when you have a

[1:56:05] good person around that makes

[1:56:07] everything work borrowed, thank

[1:56:10] you. Thank you very much for

[1:56:12] the 45 years it's been a

[1:56:14] language time and come full

[1:56:17] circle but have a great years

[1:56:19] ahead of you. Thank you.

[1:56:23] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[1:56:24] so much.

[1:56:24] >>com. Nurit katz: any other

[1:56:25] speakers that we missed before

[1:56:26] we move on? Please come up.

[1:56:31] >>speaker: wendy mitchell I'm

[1:56:32] the mother of mitchell katz that

[1:56:38] the much lauded by his father

[1:56:40] and I wanted to come and support

[1:56:42] richard and thanks thank him for

[1:56:44] all his public service, public

[1:56:48] servants are much maligned these

[1:56:52] days there are some good people

[1:56:54] that do good work and richard is

[1:56:56] at the top of that list. He has

[1:57:01] not enriched himself by being in

[1:57:03] public service, he's done the

[1:57:06] hard work in difficult

[1:57:09] situations and this is just the

[1:57:11] last of man of services that

[1:57:16] he's provided to the city and

[1:57:18] the state and proud of him

[1:57:20] congratulations on your

[1:57:21] retirement much deserved and all

[1:57:25] the applause today. Thank you.

[1:57:26] [applause]

[1:57:29] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you to

[1:57:30] everyone for your remarks. I

[1:57:34] want to echo everything that's

[1:57:35] been said as I was working on a

[1:57:39] commencement speech this year to

[1:57:40] inspire graduates I looked to

[1:57:42] richard and ended up sharing

[1:57:44] what he said what he tells

[1:57:47] people who work with him which

[1:57:48] is do the hard thing you have

[1:57:51] had a career doing those things

[1:57:53] that are hard and seem

[1:57:54] impossible in public service

[1:57:56] really grateful for your

[1:57:58] leadership so now you have

[1:58:01] opportunity to make some

[1:58:02] remarks.

[1:58:03] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[1:58:04] I never served on a board with

[1:58:06] another katz before it's been

[1:58:09] interesting and fun. Thank you

[1:58:11] nurit, janisse, and everybody

[1:58:14] who had comments and said nice

[1:58:17] things about me as hard as it

[1:58:21] might have been for some I

[1:58:24] greatly appreciate it all. This

[1:58:26] has been of all the experiences

[1:58:29] in public life roughly two years

[1:58:34] here at the commission has been

[1:58:36] some of the most interesting and

[1:58:39] most challenging. The idea of

[1:58:42] blending power and water

[1:58:44] together in a way that doesn't

[1:58:45] kill somebody how you keep the

[1:58:48] city from going where it's

[1:58:50] supposed to go but to do it for

[1:58:52] public good is interesting and I

[1:58:54] have always been impressed with

[1:58:56] the men and women of dwp but I

[1:58:59] was not prepared for how

[1:59:01] impressed I would be as I got to

[1:59:03] know them better over the last

[1:59:06] two years as janisse said all of

[1:59:09] us who get exposed to our

[1:59:11] challenges we're more impressed

[1:59:14] every day the men and women of

[1:59:18] ladwp who respond take care of

[1:59:21] business and get it done. The

[1:59:22] there is a reason our safety

[1:59:24] record is good, our satisfaction

[1:59:27] records are good reason our

[1:59:29] rates are lower than others and

[1:59:31] these are the people that make

[1:59:32] it happen. We get to sit up

[1:59:35] here and make speeches and get

[1:59:38] thank-yous. But it's really the

[1:59:39] folks day in and day out

[1:59:42] literally 24/7 who are out

[1:59:43] there. I was thinking about it

[1:59:45] yesterday, the -- the big river

[1:59:55] in the sky when I first heard

[1:59:58] about atmospheric rivers I said

[2:00:01] there is as much water in an

[2:00:04] atmospheric river as there is in

[2:00:06] the mississippi river except

[2:00:08] it's above you it makes you

[2:00:10] notice. But you don't see the

[2:00:12] people here not just the people

[2:00:15] around the dais or audience but

[2:00:16] the men and women who come in

[2:00:18] every day, seven days a week

[2:00:22] every day of the year make a

[2:00:23] difference in people's lives,

[2:00:25] don't hesitate we're so lucky.

[2:00:31] people say don't you feel bad

[2:00:33] when the wall street journal

[2:00:35] criticizes california and city

[2:00:38] the los angeles and I said no,

[2:00:40] we take it as a badge of honor

[2:00:42] if the wall street journal

[2:00:43] starts saying nice things about

[2:00:45] us we're going to have to

[2:00:47] reexamine what we're doing

[2:00:48] [laughter]

[2:00:49] because we have our own style

[2:00:50] and our own way of doing it and

[2:00:52] dwp is an example of that and

[2:00:54] the quality of people who work

[2:00:55] here and it's a great city

[2:00:57] because of the people not the

[2:00:58] other way around, and too many

[2:01:01] people forget that it's easy to

[2:01:03] get wrapped up in all the pomp

[2:01:04] and circumstance and moves and

[2:01:06] bright lights and all of that

[2:01:08] but what makes it special is the

[2:01:09] people that work here day in and

[2:01:11] day out take time away from

[2:01:13] their families to make this a

[2:01:14] really great place to live and

[2:01:16] as much as we have accomplished

[2:01:18] we have a lot more to do. I'll

[2:01:20] look for finding ways to still

[2:01:22] be of helpful and of use and I

[2:01:24] look forward to continuing

[2:01:25] relationships with the friends I

[2:01:26] have made at the department.

[2:01:28] ibew18 and our friends in labor,

[2:01:32] there is a lot to be proud of

[2:01:33] here, and that's -- I was very

[2:01:36] happy to hear about the expanded

[2:01:38] story telling, if you are, about

[2:01:41] what takes place here. Because

[2:01:43] people really need to know about

[2:01:45] the heros here. And everybody

[2:01:46] who works here whether working

[2:01:49] in the building or out in the

[2:01:50] field is a hero in my mind, and

[2:01:52] makes this, you know, one of the

[2:01:54] greatest cities in the world,

[2:01:55] but despite all our charges. I

[2:01:58] don't think we prefer to have

[2:01:59] challenges, because we wouldn't

[2:02:01] know what we would do if we

[2:02:02] didn't have them. We could use

[2:02:04] a few less from time to time.

[2:02:06] but I'm really thankful to the

[2:02:08] mayor for the appointment and

[2:02:09] for the couple for approving me

[2:02:10] and for all of you being here

[2:02:12] today and being a part of this.

[2:02:13] and just grateful to be part of

[2:02:16] this city. And with that, I

[2:02:21] think I'll stop with that. But

[2:02:23] just say again, thank you, thank

[2:02:25] you, thank you. My life is so

[2:02:28] many richer for being able to

[2:02:29] spend time all of you and I look

[2:02:32] forward to whatever the next

[2:02:33] chapter is and continuing.

[2:02:35] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you so

[2:02:36] much.

[2:02:36] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[2:02:37] you.

[2:02:37] [applause]

[2:02:39] >>com. Nurit katz: all right.

[2:02:40] so --

[2:02:40] [applause]

[2:02:57] >>com. Nurit katz: so, I think

[2:02:58] I defer to chante, do we need a

[2:03:00] motion to approve the

[2:03:02] resolution?

[2:03:03] [laughter]

[2:03:03] okay. I thereby make a motion

[2:03:07] to approve the resolution

[2:03:08] honoring the service of richard

[2:03:10] katz. I think richard you're

[2:03:12] going to have to vote on it.

[2:03:15] >>pres. Richard katz: I'll

[2:03:16] second that.

[2:03:17] >>com. Nurit katz: all right.

[2:03:18] seconded. Hearing no objection,

[2:03:20] we'll count all of us as aye

[2:03:23] votes. With that we'll present

[2:03:26] you with this formal resolution

[2:03:28] and folks can come join us fair

[2:03:30] photo. Wilma, come to join us.

[2:03:42] we'll hold it nicely.

[2:04:30] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[2:04:31] you, all, again. We're going to

[2:04:33] break this into two pieces.

[2:04:36] consent items while we have

[2:04:38] quorum. And we'll take I break

[2:04:40] so people can go down and

[2:04:42] participate in the valor event.

[2:04:44] then we'll come back and finish

[2:04:46] the rest of this agenda.

[2:04:48] >>com. Nurit katz: all right.

[2:04:49] >>pres. Richard katz: on the

[2:04:50] consent items, I have n, 1, 4,

[2:04:55] 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14

[2:04:59] through 18, 20 through 23, and

[2:05:01] 30 through 32.

[2:05:04] >>com. Nurit katz: okay.

[2:05:05] motion to approve those items.

[2:05:09] >>pres. Richard katz: second by

[2:05:12] miss pinder?

[2:05:14] >>com. Wilma pinder: second.

[2:05:16] >>pres. Richard katz: with all

[2:05:16] those present as aye votes.

[2:05:22] such will be the order. That's

[2:05:24] part of it. Janisse the time

[2:05:26] downstairs?

[2:05:27] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[2:05:29] 12:30.

[2:05:30] >>com. Nurit katz: we have time

[2:05:31] to finish any other items.

[2:05:33] >>pres. Richard katz: let's try

[2:05:34] to knockout a couple other

[2:05:37] items. Give me five minutes

[2:05:39] before we'll go down.

[2:05:41] we had a couple of items that we

[2:05:43] called out as special on the

[2:05:45] agenda. Let's start with n2,

[2:05:51] which is -- [indiscernible]

[2:05:55] I believe. Is this yours?

[2:05:57] >>speaker: it's mine.

[2:05:59] >>pres. Richard katz: I'm

[2:05:59] sorry, john.

[2:06:01] >>speaker: do you just want the

[2:06:02] presentation or you have

[2:06:03] specific questions?

[2:06:05] >>pres. Richard katz: a quick

[2:06:05] summary, this is the dollars for

[2:06:07] the next phase of tillman, of

[2:06:09] the building.

[2:06:10] >>speaker: ready mix.

[2:06:11] >>pres. Richard katz: the

[2:06:12] agreement. Okay.

[2:06:14] >>speaker: we're asking for

[2:06:15] additional funds.

[2:06:16] >>pres. Richard katz: okay.

[2:06:17] >>speaker: so with that, my

[2:06:18] folks from supply chain

[2:06:20] services.

[2:06:21] >>pres. Richard katz: I got it.

[2:06:22] all right.

[2:06:24] >>speaker: so, this is hector

[2:06:26] lucero, and lucero, and tui.

[2:06:37] >>pres. Richard katz: good

[2:06:38] morning.

[2:06:40] >>com. Wilma pinder: people are

[2:06:41] waiting.

[2:06:41] >>pres. Richard katz: they're

[2:06:42] bailing.

[2:06:43] [laughter]

[2:06:43] >>speaker: good morning. First

[2:06:44] time here. Hector lucero,

[2:06:47] assistant director supply chain

[2:06:49] services material services

[2:06:50] otherwise referred to as stores.

[2:06:53] >>pres. Richard katz: okay.

[2:06:54] >>speaker: good morning.

[2:06:55] installment director procurement

[2:06:57] services.

[2:06:58] >>speaker: quick summary.

[2:07:00] >>pres. Richard katz: some of

[2:07:01] this was approved previously.

[2:07:02] >>speaker: correct. So, what

[2:07:03] you have here is the amendment

[2:07:04] number one to this contract for

[2:07:06] ready mix concrete and backfill

[2:07:10] slurry. So, over the course of

[2:07:12] the first year, we experienced

[2:07:13] greater than average usage.

[2:07:17] some projects that were not

[2:07:18] forecasted as part of the

[2:07:20] original estimate for the bid.

[2:07:22] this year has proven to be very

[2:07:25] challenging for the department

[2:07:25] with a lot of emergencies. So,

[2:07:27] we had greater usage. We did --

[2:07:31] we're asking here for approval

[2:07:33] of $3 million for the first

[2:07:35] year, $5 million to add to the

[2:07:38] first and second optional

[2:07:40] renewal periods. And that comes

[2:07:42] down to making sure that we have

[2:07:44] sufficient funding for the first

[2:07:45] year. And as we're looking at

[2:07:49] some part of what we're looking

[2:07:50] at is the rebuild of palisades

[2:07:53] and other projects that weren't

[2:07:54] accounted for originally. So we

[2:07:56] want to make sure that we have

[2:07:57] enough funding for those

[2:07:58] projects in the future. For

[2:08:00] this year, we did acknowledge

[2:08:03] earl on that we need some

[2:08:04] additional funding. So, we came

[2:08:06] to ask for ensuring this we have

[2:08:08] funding to carry us, for any

[2:08:10] remaining invoices that we have

[2:08:11] for this current year.

[2:08:13] >>pres. Richard katz: this is

[2:08:14] to what's already been invoiced

[2:08:16] for.

[2:08:17] >>speaker: part has been

[2:08:21] invoiced at this point we have

[2:08:23] 95% of the invoicing handled we

[2:08:25] want to make sure we have

[2:08:26] sufficient funding.

[2:08:29] >>pres. Richard katz: and --

[2:08:31] >>speaker: richard key points

[2:08:34] about this contract is it's one+

[2:08:36] one contract so funding doesn't

[2:08:38] carry over to the next fiscal

[2:08:41] year.

[2:08:42] >>speaker: this is why they're

[2:08:44] asking for additional --

[2:08:45] >>pres. Richard katz: got it.

[2:08:46] >>speaker: that's where this is

[2:08:47] different from a normal 36 month

[2:08:49] contract where funding is

[2:08:50] available.

[2:08:51] >>pres. Richard katz: I

[2:08:52] appreciate that. One thing to

[2:08:52] be clear for people listening,

[2:08:55] you're talking about this being

[2:08:56] 95% of what you already have in

[2:09:01] that's not all we anticipate for

[2:09:03] palisades going forward.

[2:09:04] >>speaker: correct.

[2:09:05] >>pres. Richard katz: I don't

[2:09:06] want anybody to get impression

[2:09:07] that we're getting off swell

[2:09:10] from the palisades we're going

[2:09:12] to have a lot more coming but

[2:09:14] we'll pay those when requested.

[2:09:17] >>speaker: yeah this is a wide

[2:09:20] contract that supports both the

[2:09:21] water and power system not only

[2:09:23] for palisades but undergrounding

[2:09:25] as well as trunk line but higher

[2:09:28] usage we're at a deficit.

[2:09:30] >>pres. Richard katz: all

[2:09:31] right. Any more questions?

[2:09:34] >>com. Nurit katz: none for me.

[2:09:35] >>pres. Richard katz: motion

[2:09:36] and second?

[2:09:38] >>com. Wilma pinder: second.

[2:09:40] >>pres. Richard katz: three

[2:09:41] votes pass on that one.

[2:09:44] >>com. Nurit katz: thank you.

[2:09:45] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[2:09:46] you. Item 13.

[2:09:50] >>speaker: commissioners item

[2:09:51] 13 is a contract with four

[2:09:53] firms. It's a cooperative

[2:09:55] purchasing agreement with firms

[2:09:56] that are currently utilized by

[2:09:58] the city of l.a.'s department of

[2:10:00] finance. It is a specific focus

[2:10:04] on this contract only is for

[2:10:07] collections related to closed or

[2:10:10] inactive accounts. So customers

[2:10:12] who currently do not have their

[2:10:14] account active with us it's for

[2:10:16] one year with one option to

[2:10:19] renew. I want to -- as you

[2:10:21] know, we're working closely on

[2:10:23] an arrear's strategy for our

[2:10:26] active customers that we're

[2:10:28] collaborating on with finance

[2:10:30] and we've have outreached to and

[2:10:34] will be formally engaging ucla

[2:10:38] in assisting us with developing

[2:10:40] a strategy for low-income

[2:10:42] lifeline customers specifically

[2:10:43] really collections foreclosed

[2:10:45] accounts is a foundational part

[2:10:47] of our financial health miss

[2:10:49] santilli has looked at this and

[2:10:51] encouraged us to have it we have

[2:10:52] had these firms on a contract or

[2:10:55] firms like them in the past

[2:10:57] there were some data sharing

[2:10:59] issues that occurred just prior

[2:11:00] to 2020 covid that prevented us

[2:11:05] from continuing to use them this

[2:11:07] contract seeks to bring them on

[2:11:09] board also important I want to

[2:11:12] make sure everyone understands

[2:11:13] that accounts that remain unpaid

[2:11:15] are paid by all the rest of our

[2:11:18] customers because we're a

[2:11:19] municipal utility and ensures

[2:11:21] that those who have incurred

[2:11:23] costs who is are no longer our

[2:11:26] customers have opportunity to

[2:11:27] pay and make us whole for those

[2:11:29] charges and for the service that

[2:11:31] they received. I ask for your

[2:11:33] support.

[2:11:35] >>pres. Richard katz: I know

[2:11:36] the department goes to

[2:11:38] extraordinary lengths to make

[2:11:39] sure that people have different

[2:11:41] ways opportunities different

[2:11:42] avenues we don't want to shut

[2:11:44] anybody off pretty fundamental

[2:11:46] to basics but like you said the

[2:11:49] debt gets spread out over those

[2:11:51] who are paying and that's not

[2:11:52] fair either so I know it's part

[2:11:54] of what ucla involvement is

[2:11:57] going to look at also how we can

[2:11:59] do better on it maybe if we get

[2:12:01] an expense itch survey we can

[2:12:04] apply it to other city

[2:12:05] departments that's us money

[2:12:09] because there are some big

[2:12:11] numbers over there.

[2:12:11] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[2:12:13] richard it could impact our

[2:12:14] credit rating which in turn

[2:12:16] turns into more cost for our

[2:12:18] customers.

[2:12:19] >>speaker: we also only have

[2:12:20] four years to collect it's

[2:12:22] important we have these services

[2:12:23] for those closed accounts at

[2:12:24] this time.

[2:12:26] >>pres. Richard katz: got it.

[2:12:26] >>speaker: thank you.

[2:12:27] >>pres. Richard katz: tim were

[2:12:28] you looking to --

[2:12:29] >>tim o'connor: yes thank you.

[2:12:30] one question about this contract

[2:12:32] -- actually a couple questions,

[2:12:34] did we have an estimated

[2:12:37] timeline for when these debt

[2:12:39] collection services would begin

[2:12:40] once these contracts are made to

[2:12:43] be executed?

[2:12:44] >>speaker: I have staff from

[2:12:45] our customer service division to

[2:12:47] answer that, tia montes whole

[2:12:53] come forward to speak to that.

[2:12:55] >>speaker: good morning.

[2:12:56] credit management customer

[2:12:58] service division. So we will as

[2:13:00] soon as we get approval from

[2:13:02] cities to proceed we're going to

[2:13:05] on-board and agree. A lot of

[2:13:08] terms how we are going to

[2:13:09] proceed with our customers and

[2:13:11] accounts really is to our option

[2:13:17] -- discretion we're looking to

[2:13:20] bring on board about six months

[2:13:22] at worst-case scenario we

[2:13:24] require that it be a manual

[2:13:27] process we don't have it

[2:13:29] implementation in place yet for

[2:13:30] these specific contracts which

[2:13:32] is a piggyback to the city we

[2:13:35] hope to put all in place within

[2:13:38] six months we have another rfp

[2:13:41] coming through a permanent one

[2:13:43] and that will have integration

[2:13:47] with it so that will take a bit

[2:13:50] longer to on-board this will be

[2:13:53] interim until that happens.

[2:13:55] >>tim o'connor: great given

[2:13:56] that these accounts are

[2:13:58] technically rate payers and each

[2:14:00] of them for whatever reason in

[2:14:02] some position of not being able

[2:14:03] to pay or just not paying our

[2:14:06] office may begin to receive --

[2:14:08] we get calls, e-mails about

[2:14:10] department actions, people

[2:14:12] getting bills, calls from

[2:14:13] collection agencies, would

[2:14:15] probably start to engender

[2:14:18] additional contacts it would be

[2:14:19] great to make sure that you're

[2:14:20] team as you're executing your

[2:14:23] work with these individual firms

[2:14:27] items that you identify to

[2:14:29] identify common themes and

[2:14:31] feedback you're getting if you

[2:14:32] could alert our office and make

[2:14:33] sure that we're well-positioned

[2:14:35] to be able to respond. The

[2:14:39] team, joe, you have been very

[2:14:41] gracious in connecting us with

[2:14:42] the folks in customer service to

[2:14:43] make sure that as we're getting

[2:14:45] incoming, we're able to route it

[2:14:47] to the right people and have

[2:14:49] issue resolution so we would

[2:14:51] just appreciate the opportunity

[2:14:52] to have a continuation of that

[2:14:53] and maybe even an expanded level

[2:14:55] of connectivity with the

[2:14:58] ratepayer advocate offices as we

[2:14:59] start this effort.

[2:15:02] >>speaker: without a doubt tim

[2:15:03] we'll be pro active with that

[2:15:05] effort letting you know once we

[2:15:08] proceed once we give those

[2:15:10] accounts to those agencies

[2:15:13] making sure you're aware without

[2:15:16] a doubt be proactive with our

[2:15:20] approach and communication.

[2:15:22] >>tim o'connor: one final

[2:15:22] question would this, sort of,

[2:15:25] given the potential outsources

[2:15:27] of this work to other firms by

[2:15:30] which those firms may not have

[2:15:31] the same care and feed and

[2:15:36] training that great customer

[2:15:38] service folks here at the

[2:15:39] department have, what steps have

[2:15:41] been taken to ensure that the

[2:15:43] level of customer service and

[2:15:45] professionalism and engagement

[2:15:46] that occurs in terms of the

[2:15:47] context that will continue

[2:15:49] forward you know to these firms

[2:15:51] is there guidance and structure

[2:15:53] that's being given to these

[2:15:55] firms and collection processes.

[2:15:57] >>speaker: it will be extension

[2:15:58] of the city we have our own csd

[2:16:02] customer service division here

[2:16:04] also in the department how we

[2:16:06] interact with our customers as

[2:16:07] part of onboarding we'll have

[2:16:10] discussions with agencies again

[2:16:11] for agencies we can determine

[2:16:12] how we share the workload among

[2:16:14] those four but before proceeding

[2:16:18] giving any of those accounts to

[2:16:19] agencies we'll have on-boarding

[2:16:23] to make sure customer service is

[2:16:25] on par.

[2:16:26] >>pres. Richard katz: I was

[2:16:27] going to ask once they get

[2:16:30] started the attitude doesn't

[2:16:32] change once they get part way in

[2:16:34] or get tired of dealing with

[2:16:35] folks that haven't paid it's a

[2:16:37] touchy subject but there are

[2:16:38] still people who live in la that

[2:16:40] we are to care for and want to

[2:16:42] care for but they're in a

[2:16:43] horrible position. As joe has

[2:16:46] and said tim has said, we don't

[2:16:48] want to make it worse we want to

[2:16:50] give them a chance to make it

[2:16:51] better.

[2:16:52] >>speaker: understood board

[2:16:53] katz without a doubt we'll

[2:16:55] communicate regularly with these

[2:16:57] agencies, whoever we decide to

[2:16:59] give the work to, that will be

[2:17:00] part of our ongoing

[2:17:02] conversations with them.

[2:17:04] >>pres. Richard katz: okay.

[2:17:04] any other questions? Comments?

[2:17:06] >>com. Nurit katz: no. Motion

[2:17:07] to approve.

[2:17:08] >>pres. Richard katz: motion

[2:17:08] and a second. All three of us

[2:17:10] here.

[2:17:11] >>com. Wilma pinder: and

[2:17:11] second. Yeah.

[2:17:12] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[2:17:13] you. All three of us in favor.

[2:17:15] so, that motion is approved.

[2:17:16] >>speaker: thank you, all.

[2:17:17] >>pres. Richard katz: thank you

[2:17:18] very much.

[2:17:19] item 19.

[2:17:23] >>ann m. Santilli: item 19 is

[2:17:24] from financial services. At the

[2:17:25] last board meeting, the board

[2:17:27] approved 190 million extension

[2:17:29] of the donald c tillman plant.

[2:17:33] that is actually owned by bureau

[2:17:35] of sanitation. However ladwp

[2:17:37] finances it because our

[2:17:39] customers will benefit from that

[2:17:40] water when it's served to the

[2:17:42] customers. So, we're requesting

[2:17:44] a regulatory asset accounting

[2:17:46] treatment for the board so we

[2:17:48] can capitalize this asset and

[2:17:50] amortize it over a period,

[2:17:52] instead of expensing it all at

[2:17:53] once which we would be required

[2:17:55] to do if this was not approved.

[2:17:57] >>pres. Richard katz: I thought

[2:17:58] we just had a better credit

[2:17:59] rating than sanitation did.

[2:18:05] [laughter]

[2:18:06] >>ann m. Santilli: actually

[2:18:07] we're paying for it it's not our

[2:18:08] asset. So the board --

[2:18:10] >>pres. Richard katz: it's not

[2:18:11] I money. Great. Got it.

[2:18:13] [laughter]

[2:18:13] go ahead.

[2:18:16] >>com. Nurit katz: second.

[2:18:17] >>pres. Richard katz: motion

[2:18:17] and second. -- we'll go back.

[2:18:19] motion and second. All members

[2:18:20] present as aye votes. Item 19

[2:18:23] has passed. Item 24 -- 24 has

[2:18:30] been deferred.

[2:18:34] >>speaker: yes deferred.

[2:18:36] >>pres. Richard katz: nicely

[2:18:37] handled.

[2:18:38] 27 we have a bench contract --

[2:18:40] bench contracts. Anselmo?

[2:18:43] >>anselmo collins: yeah for

[2:18:43] that one we have greg director

[2:18:45] of water, engineering and

[2:18:47] technical services come up. And

[2:18:49] commissioner if you have

[2:18:51] specific questions or you want a

[2:18:52] short presentation?

[2:18:54] >>com. Wilma pinder: very

[2:18:54] short.

[2:18:55] >>pres. Richard katz: short

[2:18:55] presentation.

[2:18:56] >>speaker: about five minutes.

[2:18:57] >>pres. Richard katz: yeah we

[2:18:58] have got about five minutes

[2:18:59] before we go down.

[2:19:02] [laughter]

[2:19:04] >>speaker: good morning

[2:19:04] commissioners.

[2:19:05] >>pres. Richard katz: good

[2:19:06] morning. I do have one

[2:19:06] question. To get on the bench

[2:19:10] for those competitively bid?

[2:19:13] >>speaker: they were. Yes.

[2:19:15] >>pres. Richard katz: okay.

[2:19:15] good.

[2:19:17] >>com. Wilma pinder: that's

[2:19:18] always kind of the bottom line.

[2:19:22] >>speaker: in addition to the

[2:19:22] task order, in addition to the

[2:19:24] competitive process to get on to

[2:19:25] the bench every task order will

[2:19:27] be competitively bid as well.

[2:19:28] >>pres. Richard katz:

[2:19:30] outstanding.

[2:19:30] >>speaker: I would like to

[2:19:31] introduce our supervising civil

[2:19:34] engineering associate ben

[2:19:41] schwinn who is also the contract

[2:19:46] administrator for this

[2:19:46] particular contract.

[2:19:50] >>pres. Richard katz: good of

[2:19:50] the welcome back. Any

[2:19:51] questions? Motion and second.

[2:19:56] >>anselmo collins: thank you

[2:19:57] very much.

[2:19:58] >>speaker: I'll add my voice of

[2:19:59] appreciation for your leadership

[2:20:00] and wish you the best in your

[2:20:01] next endeavors, board president.

[2:20:04] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[2:20:05] you. I appreciate it.

[2:20:06] >>com. Wilma pinder: we're all

[2:20:07] taking a little bit of his blood

[2:20:09] and inserting it into --

[2:20:12] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[2:20:13] you.

[2:20:15] >>tim o'connor: president katz

[2:20:16] if I may offer a point? On this

[2:20:19] item it is of course a contract

[2:20:26] expenditure item opa you have

[2:20:28] looked at it feels appropriate

[2:20:32] for us to comment that we'll be

[2:20:34] looking at underlying

[2:20:35] expenditures as opposed to the

[2:20:38] budget and investment plan which

[2:20:39] is the place where we would

[2:20:42] evaluate this type and so

[2:20:44] certainly recommend and support

[2:20:45] the department having staff and

[2:20:48] capability it needs to

[2:20:50] accomplish this task and see

[2:20:51] this as necessary and approval

[2:20:55] of the expenditure of 120

[2:20:58] million that goes to the

[2:20:59] underlying approval of the

[2:21:02] budget investment plan. Really

[2:21:05] just supporting the staff

[2:21:06] ability to execute on those

[2:21:09] duties.

[2:21:11] >>pres. Richard katz: good

[2:21:12] point hopefully not doing this

[2:21:15] every week. Do you have --

[2:21:19] >>tim o'connor: just an

[2:21:19] observation this is not

[2:21:21] necessarily approval of the

[2:21:22] expansion of the budget but it's

[2:21:23] a way to add capacity to the

[2:21:25] department to be able to execute

[2:21:26] on its duties that be approved

[2:21:29] by this board.

[2:21:33] >>com. Nurit katz: great.

[2:21:33] >>pres. Richard katz: thank

[2:21:34] you.

[2:21:35] >>com. Nurit katz: motion to

[2:21:36] approve item 27.

[2:21:36] >>wilma pinder: second.

[2:21:37] >>pres. Richard katz: three

[2:21:38] ayes without objection on item

[2:21:41] 27. We'll go to item 29.

[2:21:46] >>anselmo collins: do you have

[2:21:46] a particular question on this or

[2:21:49] you want background?

[2:21:51] >>pres. Richard katz: why are

[2:21:52] we building it at berkley? Why

[2:21:53] not building here ucla.

[2:21:53] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[2:21:56] yeah. I knew it.

[2:21:57] [laughter]

[2:21:58] I told him. It's the college.

[2:22:02] >>anselmo collins: this

[2:22:02] particular facility was --

[2:22:04] >>pres. Richard katz: how many

[2:22:04] years have I represented la?

[2:22:06] never represented berkeley.

[2:22:10] >>anselmo collins: this

[2:22:10] facility was started in

[2:22:12] cooperation collaboration with

[2:22:13] east bay municipal water east

[2:22:16] bay mud. Once started they

[2:22:18] reached out to me other and

[2:22:20] utilities in the region to

[2:22:21] contribute towards the

[2:22:21] development of this particular

[2:22:23] center. I will say that it is

[2:22:24] really geared towards some of

[2:22:26] the larger utilities. So, east

[2:22:28] bay mud, metropolitan water

[2:22:31] district, sfpuc, or san

[2:22:39] francisco public utilities

[2:22:41] commission and ladwp are some of

[2:22:42] the key members there were

[2:22:44] others as well. Something

[2:22:45] similar was being done in

[2:22:46] cornell, which meant anytime we

[2:22:48] had to send it all the way up

[2:22:50] the east coast. So this

[2:22:53] facility really is more

[2:22:54] supporting the western united

[2:22:56] states. Interesting part, it's

[2:22:58] large-scale testing of trunk

[2:23:00] lines few agencies install pipe

[2:23:02] as big as we do and having

[2:23:05] ability to test characteristics

[2:23:07] of the other pipe are important

[2:23:09] so it's very important asset to

[2:23:11] us I have searched -- the

[2:23:15] assistant director here and

[2:23:17] randy hirata also west. If you

[2:23:24] have other questions there are

[2:23:25] folks that have been working on

[2:23:27] this for a bit who can have

[2:23:30] better than I can.

[2:23:31] >>pres. Richard katz: should we

[2:23:32] build another facility down

[2:23:34] here?

[2:23:34] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[2:23:35] president katz, we have ucla,

[2:23:37] usc, we have all the community

[2:23:40] college we spend a lot of money

[2:23:40] in l.a.

[2:23:42] >>pres. Richard katz: I know we

[2:23:43] do.

[2:23:43] >>anselmo collins: we do have

[2:23:44] agreements with ucla and to do

[2:23:46] other studies as well. Not the

[2:23:48] large scale testing. Go bruins.

[2:23:51] >>pres. Richard katz: any other

[2:23:51] questions?

[2:23:52] [laughter]

[2:23:53] >>com. Wilma pinder: at

[2:23:54] berkeley, that's a pretty good

[2:23:55] institute.

[2:23:56] >>com. Nurit katz: all in the

[2:23:57] family.

[2:23:58] >>pres. Richard katz: got it.

[2:23:59] motion and second. You know, in

[2:24:02] either order you want them and

[2:24:03] the three zero votes to approve.

[2:24:06] that is done.

[2:24:06] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[2:24:11] then it's 12:35.

[2:24:15] >>com. Nurit katz: do you have

[2:24:20] any more left.

[2:24:21] >>pres. Richard katz: item 32?

[2:24:22] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce:

[2:24:22] that would be the last one?

[2:24:24] let's get that one.

[2:24:27] >>anselmo collins: for that

[2:24:28] one, greg either you or ophelia.

[2:24:32] item 32, approval, amendment to

[2:24:36] an existing contract we have

[2:24:37] with web core, yiashi and lyles

[2:24:44] folks that have been working on

[2:24:46] the headworks projects two

[2:24:49] buried tanks we have totaling

[2:24:52] 110 million gallons for contract

[2:24:57] to be extended the contract ends

[2:24:59] in december putting final

[2:25:01] touches on the facility

[2:25:03] currently in process to evaluate

[2:25:05] proposals to hire somebody to

[2:25:07] help with finishing the two

[2:25:08] tanks we have are actually on

[2:25:10] the ground and with phase four

[2:25:11] we're going to finish up the

[2:25:13] property completely we feel it's

[2:25:21] advantageous for the facility,

[2:25:25] to know able to finish it for

[2:25:28] us.

[2:25:29] >>com. Wilma pinder: when will

[2:25:30] the finish date be.

[2:25:32] >>speaker: in four years before

[2:25:34] the olympics this's been a

[2:25:36] request from the stakeholders we

[2:25:38] can't complete all of it by

[2:25:40] olympics but hope to finish most

[2:25:42] by then.

[2:25:44] >>anselmo collins: this is

[2:25:45] ophelia rubio in charge of the

[2:25:48] management of the water system.

[2:25:51] >>tim o'connor: thank you

[2:25:52] president we had discussion with

[2:25:53] the water team on friday about

[2:25:54] this item. We did ask for

[2:25:57] additional information around

[2:25:58] the cost associated with the

[2:26:01] expansion of the estimates for

[2:26:04] phase four. We understand the

[2:26:06] department is still giving some

[2:26:08] of that putting that map

[2:26:10] together but at this point we

[2:26:11] find that the estimates are

[2:26:13] reasonable. And have no

[2:26:15] concerns about the approval of

[2:26:17] the item at this point.

[2:26:18] >>com. Wilma pinder: thank you.

[2:26:19] did you hear he has no --

[2:26:26] >>pres. Richard katz: motion

[2:26:27] and second.

[2:26:27] >>com. Nurit katz: approved.

[2:26:28] >>pres. Richard katz: without

[2:26:29] objection three-zero. Motion on

[2:26:33] the last one?

[2:26:34] >>com. Nurit katz: motion to

[2:26:35] approve the minutes from the

[2:26:36] prior ladwp board meeting.

[2:26:40] >>com. Wilma pinder: second.

[2:26:40] >>pres. Richard katz: motion

[2:26:41] and second. Three zero vote.

[2:26:43] that's done that part of the

[2:26:47] agenda we have some closed

[2:26:48] session items but first we're

[2:26:49] going to go downstairs.

[2:26:53] >>janisse quiñones, ceo/ce: do

[2:26:53] you want to read it in?

[2:26:56] >>pres. Richard katz: whatever

[2:26:57] makes everyone happy.

[2:27:00] >>com. Nurit katz: okay great.

[2:27:01] ben you can read it then we'll

[2:27:03] --

[2:27:03] >>gen. Counsel, ben chapman:

[2:27:04] the board shall publicly report

[2:27:06] any action in closed session and

[2:27:12] vote or abstention of every

[2:27:14] member present thereon in

[2:27:16] accordance section 54957.1 of

[2:27:22] the california governed code.

[2:27:24] thank you.

[2:27:26] >>pres. Richard katz: we'll

[2:27:27] head down to the lobby then come

[2:27:29] back for closed session.

[2:28:01] resume to open session president

[2:28:03] katz we're back in session we

[2:28:04] have one item from closed

[2:28:06] session to report-out. Pursuant

[2:28:08] to 54957.1 of the california

[2:28:12] government code we're reporting

[2:28:13] back on 02, jeffrey hughes v

[2:28:17] ladwp los angeles superior court

[2:28:19] case 20stcv35654, step and fall

[2:28:22] on a broken water meter 350

Board of Commissioners Special Meeting - Nov 18th, 2025

Agenda

Transcript